A Counsellor at the Department of Asian Affairs of Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday tweeted that the first South Asia-bound freight train from Chinese city Lanzhou departed for Kathmandu. The Chinese official further said that the train is expected to reach Nepal within 9-10 from Lanzhou, saving 15 days compared with sea shipping.
According to officials in Nepal, there is no railway line in Kathmandu. The Nepali official termed it mere Chinese propaganda, to show the international community that a railway line has already been established between Nepal and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).