CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Monday, June 17, 2019 | 3 TOP NEWS Links between Tibet and Nepal boosted Railway that will connect countries Tibet’s economic growth has changer, said Chet Nath Acharya, alayan Friendship Society of Nepal, ment in India. And Chinese people ranked among China’s highest for who has worked for a Nepalese­lan­ Rajiv Kumar Jha, praised the believe in Buddhism — in Tibet touted as potential game­changer years, and about 90 percent of guage news service in Beijing for expansion of ties in recent years also,” Acharya said. Tibet’s exports went to Nepal in six years. and expressed hopes of even broad­ “So, if the cultural corridor links By ERIK NILSSON in Lhasa Nepal plan to enhance connectivi­ 2017. “Tibet is very important for er cooperation through the BRI. China, Nepal and India, it’ll be very [email protected] ty, especially through agreements The autonomous region’s trade Nepal, and Nepal is very important The initiative also provides new useful and significant.” to construct a cross­border railway with Nepal grew by 4.6 percent last for China,” he said. opportunities for cultural and peo­ He pointed out people in Tibet The Belt and Road Initiative is linking Tibet’s Shigatse city with year. “Tibet is doing big business with ple­to­people exchanges, Nepalese and Nepal share similarities such unleashing the Tibet autonomous Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, that Projects such as the Gyirong­Ra­ Nepal. But the problem is Tibet experts said. as attire, food and festivals, includ­ region’s potential as a “golden gate­ was signed last summer. suwa Port in the border city of Shi­ isn’t producing the goods.” Jha pointed to religious tourism’s ing celebrations of Losar, the Tibet­ way” shared with South Asia, “Previously, most of Tibet’s eco­ gatse, agreed upon within the BRI The goods being traded across potential. an New Year. according to Nepalese experts who nomic growth came from the cen­ framework in 2017, and plans to the border came from further “This spiritualism, if connected Nepalese participants said visits attended the 2019 Forum on the tral government,” said the enhance connectivity by rail, high­ inland in China, he said. But if the by road and air routes, will be more to villages, towns, schools, nursing Development of Tibet, which con­ secretary­general of the Nepal ways, telecommunications and air, BRI creates sufficient develop­ beneficial,” he said. homes and religious sites in Tibet’s cluded on Saturday. Institute for Strategic Studies, have bolstered Nepal’s hopes of fur­ ment, Tibet will be able to establish Acharya expressed hopes for capital, Lhasa, and the city of Nepalese participants said they Rupak Sapkota. ther engaging China generally and huge industries, and the goods will enhanced links via the trans­Hima­ Nyingchi in the days before the are particularly hopeful about “Now, it is partnering with neigh­ Tibet specifically through the initi­ be able to go to South Asia via layan “cultural corridor”. forum enabled them to witness the sharing the benefits of mutual boring countries … for economic ative. Nepal. “The Shakyamuni Buddha was autonomous region’s development development, since China and development and sustainability.” The railway will be a game­ The chairman of the Trans­Him­ born in Nepal. He got enlighten­ firsthand. ‘No forces can sever ties’ First test run with Taiwan compatriots for train to

By ZHANG YANGFEI and never tolerate any separatist activ­ new airport HU MEIDONG in Xiamen, Fujian ities or ‘Taiwan independence’ attempt in any form,” he said. Taiwan compatriots remain The forum is an annual gather­ in Beijing highly enthusiastic about seeking ing initiated in 2009 to enhance opportunities on the Chinese people­to­people interaction mainland, showing the cross­ across the Straits. This year, more By XIN WEN Straits economic exchange and than 10,000 people from a wide [email protected] integration are unstoppable, said range of sectors in Taiwan signed top political adviser Wang Yang. up for the event, the largest num­ The first phase of a new subway “No forces can suppress the great ber the forum has ever seen. line connecting downtown Beijing to trend of cross­Straits economic Of those attending, 40 percent the new international airport under communication and integration or were Taiwan residents at the construction south of the city saw its sever the cultural tie of the same ori­ forum for the first time and 50 per­ first test run on Saturday, indicating gin between com­ cent were young Taiwan adults, that preparations for the opening of patriots on both whose exchanges with mainland Beijing Daxing International Airport sides of the Straits,” young adults are one of the focuses in September are in full swing, Wang, chairman of of the gathering. according to local officials. the National Com­ Despite some turbulent Xia Boyu (center), a Chinese mountaineer who lost his legs four decades ago while climbing Qomo­ The rail transit line, designed to mittee of the Chi­ moments, the relationship between langma, known as Mount Everest in the West, attends the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Inter­ link the new airport in Daxing dis­ nese People’s Polit­ the Chinese mainland and Taiwan national Film Festival on Saturday with crew members of the movie The Climbers. The film is based trict and Caoqiao subway station in Wang Yang ical Consultative can always “see the silver lining on the story of China’s national mountaineering team and Xia’s personal experience. DING TING / XINHUA Fengtai district, spans 41.4 kilome­ Conference, said at behind the clouds,” said Tseng ters and passes through three sub­ the opening ceremony of the 11th Yung­chuan, the Kuomintang’s way stations in the capital. The train Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian, on vice­chairman. can reach speeds of up to 160 kilome­ Sunday. Tseng called the commitment to Film event fosters cultural cooperation ters per hour. The forum follows President Xi the 1992 Consensus and opposi­ Automated subway trains will be Jinping delivering a speech in Jan­ tion to “Taiwan independence” the By ZHANG KUN in Shanghai “has presented outstanding nese buyers and filmmakers, Fu said. used on the new airport line, said uary marking the 40th anniversa­ cornerstones of the relationship. [email protected] achievements of the Asian film Nuri Bilge Ceylan, a Turkish film Yang Guangwu, chief engineer of the ry of the National People’s The 1992 Consensus refers to an industry, while providing fresh director and screenplay writer with Beijing Major Projects Construction Congress Standing Committee agreement the two sides reached The 22nd Shanghai Internation­ enrichment to Shanghai culture”. multiple awards from the Cannes Headquarters Office. When put into issuing the Message to Compatri­ in 1992 embodying the one­China al Film Festival, one of Asia’s larg­ The festival has also brought International Film Festival, is the operation in September along with ots in Taiwan. Xi said “China must principle. est, opened on Saturday with more opportunities to further develop the chairman of a seven­member jury of the new airport, the trains will be be and will be reunified.” “Compatriots on both sides of than 3,900 films from 112 countries Belt and Road Initiative, Shen said the Shanghai film festival. capable of fully automated driverless The Chinese mainland is march­ the Straits must face challenges and regions competing for Golden at Saturday’s opening ceremony. “I have been interested in Chinese operation and will be the fastest sub­ ing toward high­quality develop­ and together contribute to the sta­ Goblet awards. The Belt and Road Film Festivals culture for a long time,” Ceylan said way trains in China. ment with rapid upgrading of bility of the Straits and promoting Fifteen films, including three in Alliance announced the launch of on Sunday, adding that he has been Construction work at Beijing Dax­ consumption and industrial struc­ integrated development,” he said. Chinese, have entered the final the Belt and Road Film Week on particularly impressed with films by ing International Airport is expected ture, Wang said. The transforma­ Wang visited companies and competition for the Golden Goblet Saturday, and eight films will be Chinese director Jia Zhangke. to be completed by the end of this tion is driving increasing demand bases that serve entrepreneurship, Award for fictional feature films. projected and compete for the Belt Ceylan has been to Chinese cities month, according to the Civil Avia­ for products and services of good research and development for Tai­ More than 500 films from around and Road Film Awards. such as Beijing and Xi’an, Shaanxi tion Administration of China. It will quality. wan youth and he encouraged the the world will be projected in 47 cin­ The film festival alliance received province, which for him are more enter commercial operation before “Economic integration is benefi­ youth from Taiwan to tell more emas throughout the city during seven new members this year and “the real China” than Shanghai. Sept 30. cial to both sides, and I see no rea­ Taiwan compatriots about their the festival, which ends on June 24. now consists of 38 festivals and A film festival is important to a The new airport, which is located son why we wouldn’t step closer personal experiences of studying The Shanghai International institutions from 33 countries, city because people can see the diver­ at the junction of Beijing’s Daxing and better integrate,” he said. and starting a business on the Film Festival has become a major according to Fu Wenxia, executive sity of the cinema, and the experi­ district and Langfang, a city in “We are willing to facilitate mainland to build more connec­ scene of international communica­ secretary­general of the organizing ence will change their vision, he said. neighboring Hebei province, is more extensive dialogues with var­ tions. tion in film, said Shen Haixiong, committee of the Shanghai Interna­ In commemoration of the 70th designed to take pressure off the ious political parties and people in deputy head of the Publicity tional Film Festival. anniversary of the founding of Peo­ overcrowded Beijing Capital Inter­ Taiwan and to build consensus. Contact the writers at Department of the Communist The alliance will help filmmakers ple’s Republic of China, the festival national Airport in the northeastern We are willing to expand room for zhangyangfei@ Party of China Central Committee. from Belt and Road countries gain will present a special unit showcas­ suburbs. peaceful reunification, but will chinadaily.com.cn It has held its position as a leading access to China’s film market by facil­ ing films that reflect China’s devel­ Beijing Daxing International Air­ event in the Asian film scene and itating communications with Chi­ opment over the past 70 years. port is set to handle up to 45 million passengers annually by 2021, with the figure expected to rise to 72 mil­ Sweeter side lion passengers by 2025. Fujian works to bolster “Operation of the new airport sub­ of learning way line means a lot to the capital’s cross­Straits exchanges rail transit system, since it increases A boy learns about sugar­ the average speed of urban rail tran­ figure blowing, a traditional sit in Beijing and will further boost By HU MEIDONG in Fuzhou providing about 2.62 million cubic Chinese folk art, at the China the economic development of the and ZHANG YI in Beijing meters of water by the end of April. Tourism and Culture Week Beijing­Tianjin­Hebei region,” Yang Fujian will also further promote in Toronto, Canada, on said. Fujian, the mainland province policies that grant Taiwan resi­ Saturday. The top speed of most subway closest to Taiwan, recently issued a dents the same living, working YU RUIDONG / CHINA NEWS SERVICE trains in Beijing is currently around guideline on exploring integrated and studying rights as mainland­ 80 km/h, he added. development across the Taiwan ers. When the subway goes into opera­ Straits, aiming to expand cross­ With mainland residence per­ tion, the 40­km journey from the Straits connectivity and build mits, Taiwan people in Fujian will city’s south Third Ring Road at Cao­ itself into a nexus for Taiwan resi­ benefit from the province’s real qiao station to the terminals at the dents and businesses. estate purchasing policies and new airport will only take 19 min­ The guideline lists 42 measures medical insurance, and they will utes, said Jiang Chuanzhi, designer covering many aspects of integration, be allowed to use their Taiwan of the new airport line. including boosting trade, cultural driver’s licenses in the province. He said the trains have a business­ communication, and interconnectiv­ To lure more Taiwan profession­ Visit: Xi stresses synergy of blueprints class carriage, six regular carriages ity in infrastructure, energy and als, the province will standardize and one for luggage, with each car­ industrial standards. the subsidy high­end Taiwan pro­ From page 1 tional organized crime, narcotics transnational crimes, strengthening riage about 22.8 meters long and 3.3 Taiwan companies can apply for fessionals receive to 2 million yuan and cybersecurity, Xi said. law enforcement and security coop­ meters wide. Each train will be able business registration in the same ($289,000), currently the high end The two countries should fur­ Saying that Tajikistan regards eration and increasing coordination to carry up to 1,500 passengers. way as their counterparts in Fujian of the range. ther synergize the Belt and Road deepening its comprehensive stra­ in multilateral affairs, he said. Four elevators and two escalators do. Some significant and leading Tai­ Wu Chia­ying, president of the Initiative with Tajikistan’s national tegic partnership with China as After their talks, the two heads of will be installed at each station along wan companies and projects will be Taiwan Businessmen Association in development strategy, raise the one of its diplomatic priorities, state attended a ceremony to the line, Jiang said. given priority of land use on the Xiamen, said, “These measures quality of cooperation and deepen Rahmon thanked the Chinese side unveil construction models of the There are wheelchair spaces and mainland. The province will explore show us Fujian’s determination to joint efforts in connectivity, energy, for its long­term support and parliament building and a govern­ USB charging ports next to the pas­ direct settlement between the ren­ promote the integrated develop­ agriculture and industry, Xi said. assistance. ment office building, with China senger seats on the trains, which are minbi and New Taiwan dollar, ment of the two sides.” He pledged China’s willingness He expressed willingness to providing assistance in both. also equipped with variable­frequen­ according to the document. Last year, 3.63 million Taiwan to help Tajikistan upgrade its agri­ enhance bilateral cooperation in They were also briefed on the cy air conditioners and LED lighting Fujian will step up efforts to residents visited Fujian, 16 percent cultural modernization, actively key projects in such fields as energy, designs and cooperation details of systems to save energy. establish water, electricity and gas more than in 2017. About 12,300 participate in Tajikistan’s construc­ petrochemicals, hydropower and the projects. According to the capital’s railway connections between the prov­ young people from Taiwan went to tion of free economic zones and infrastructure construction within On Saturday, Xi also received the corporation, the airport subway line ince’s coastal area and Taiwan’s Jin­ Fujian to find work or start their have more exchanges in culture, the framework of the Belt and Road Order of the Crown, Tajikistan’s was designed as part of the city’s first men and Matsu islands, which lack own businesses last year, an 87 education and tourism. so as to help Tajikistan realize its highest decoration, from Rahmon, three­layer cluster of transport infra­ those resources, the guideline said. percent year­on­year increase. The two nations should deepen industrialization goals. due to the Chinese president’s posi­ structure, with the subway line and In August, a 28­kilometer pipeline cooperation in combating the three Tajikistan is committed to working tive contributions to bilateral ties. an expressway above ground and a from Fujian to Jinmen started to Contact the writers at evil forces of terrorism, separatism with China in combating terrorism, Xi said he attached great signifi­ gas pipeline underground to fully alleviate the islet’s water shortages, [email protected] and extremism, as well as transna­ separatism and extremism, as well as cance to the honor. use the space available.