The International Conference of Trans Himalayan Cross Border Industry was held on Friday in Linchi, Xichang (Tibet) Autonomous Province of China. It is a regional international cooperation forum organized by the Xichang People's Government of China and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where various countries including Nepal are invited.

Ambassador of Nepal Krishna Prasad Oli from Beijing, Consul General Lakshmi Niraula from Lhasa participated in this program, and ambassadors from Chile and Afghanistan also participated. Industrialists from different countries were also present, giving information about their businesses and organizations.

Deputy Secretary of CPC Linchi and Mayor Pa Thale gave a welcome dinner and on the morning of the 27th, Chao Fong, Vice President of Xichang Autonomous Region, gave a keynote address to the conference. Oli, the Nepali Ambassador to China, said that Nepal, a Himalayan country, has suffered the most from the effects of climate change and said that Nepal has to suffer due to the industrial development of other developed countries. He also told that Nepal is constantly disconcerting the international community that the mountains of Nepal are melting and the tourism sector is collapsing.

Himalayan cross-border connectivity is most needed by Nepal, he emphasized on the need to connect Chinese railways to Nepal to increase international connectivity with China. He said, 'If the railway network is connected between Nepal and China, it will be easier for Chinese tourists to increase in Nepal and expand Nepali products in the Chinese market.' He urged businessmen and industrialists to invest in Nepal as it is a close neighbor. Glimpses of Tibetan culture were also displayed during the opening of the

program. On Saturday, the participants will be given a site visit to various museums, industrial areas, parks, water industries, agricultural farms and other places in Lynchy.