International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Deepak Kumar

Abstract
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious project of China, engaging more attention from South Asia and World. The Belt and Road Initiative, formerly known as One Belt One Road or OBOR for short, is a world-level policy initiative the Chinese Government came in 2013. The OBOR gives a strategic focus to the Chinese government’s “go out” initiative, which encourages Chinese ventures into economic space and investment opportunities abroad. The present of China Mr. Xi Jinping described it as a “project of the 21st century” which would stretch to enormous landmasses of Eurasia and Africa. The initiative is the revival of the Old Silk Road, which had a significant influence on the integration of a large population of the world in the ancient era. China is influencing South Asia through BRI therefore China signed MOUs with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Nepal. In May 2017, China and Nepal agreed on Bilateral Cooperation under the agency of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). For the last few years, China is heavily investing in Nepal to increase connectivity and infrastructure after the approval of the BRI project. Nepal also expressed its desire “to work in close cooperation with China towards enhancing between them and boots their infrastructure, trade, energy sector, and tourism sector. This would ultimately contribute to regional harmony, peace, and development.” This paper attempts to highlight China’s BRI and its strategic implications on Nepal, and it would focus on China’s interests in Nepal. It analyses Belt and Road Initiative from Nepal’s perspective along with its interest in this initiative. It will engage in India’s foreign policy strategy to South Asia, especially in Nepal, and their bilateral relations to meet the Chinese challenges. Methodologically, this paper is descriptive, and analytical and uses primary and secondary materials. It will explain multiple dimensions as well as challenges of BRI to India.