The Belt and Road Initiative as a Gateway to the Sea for Land-Locked Countries: With Reference to Nepal

Abstract

This article explores the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its role as an agent to bind the relationship between the sea and landlocked countries, while pointing out the necessity of alternative sea access to the land-locked countries especially during situations like blockade. The BRI is a Chinese development project with five main objectives: connectivity of infrastructure, policy coordination, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. The objective of connectivity of infrastructure is pivotal to land-locked countries and their access to the sea. The study establishes that the BRI’s proposed six corridors and one maritime route are useful for land-locked countries. Nepal is one of the landlocked countries and many times suffering from blockade from its neighboring country especially India. Therefore, this study aimed to identify whether the BRI is necessary or not to avoid the potential blockade from its neighboring countries. The study is mainly focused on the secondary data of import and export, and the impact of blockade on import and export in Nepal. Situations like blockade seriously impact countries’ export-import activities, and especially those of land-locked countries. The BRI and the Nepal-China Transit Transport Agreement have secured sea rights to Nepal via Chinese territory. The BRI provides a solution for land-locked countries against the continuing threat and problems created by blockade. Therefore, this study strongly recommend to Nepal Government to work seriously through BRI for further Nepal’s developmental process and country’s rapid economy growth in the future.