Now, China offers Mandarin course to Nepal foreign ministry officials

As China opens new investment opportunities in Nepal, President Xi's government has decided to push Mandarin to make its presence felt in the country.

According to sources, last month the Chinese embassy invited more than 30 Nepal foreign ministry officials to China who studied Chinese Mandarin course. 

According to reports, more than 600 journalists from Nepal have been invited to China to discuss Chinese language and culture. Most of the journalists work in different newspapers and FM stations in Nepal. 

China has been consistently engaging Nepal to further its economic interests, especially with the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative. China recently announced the introduction of several hydropower projects in the country.

Reports say China has invested $2.38 billion in the new Trishuli-2 hydropower project in Rasuwa. 

Experts say China has been attempting to build "true partnership" with Nepal in order to build a counterweight against India.

A high-level Chinese delegation held talks with Nepal's business leaders and discussed investment opportunities in the country under the OBOR initiative on Monday.

The 20-member delegation led by Shu Ya, founder of OBOR International Platform of China held talks with the Nepalese business community on attracting Chinese investment in Nepal, PTI reported according to sources close to OBOR-Nepal Chapter.

During the meeting, the representatives of Nepalese business community asked the OBOR delegation to increase investment in Nepal's energy and infrastructure sector as well as tourism and agriculture.

Bhawani Rana, Chairperson of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), asked the delegation to contribute for Nepal's economic prosperity through increasing investment under the OBOR framework as the investment climate had improved significantly with the establishment of new communist government in Nepal.