The Second China Tibet Lulang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Nyingch, Tibet autonomous region on Tuesday. (Photo: Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn)

The Second China Tibet Lulang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Nyingch, Tibet autonomous region on Tuesday.

The one-day event invited guests from China, Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Myanmar to discuss cooperation between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

With the theme of Trans-Himalaya Connectivity, the forum is expected to help the region push forward its efforts to become an important gateway to South Asia and to build the Trans-Himalaya economic zone to fully integrate it into the Belt and Road Initiative.

Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC of the Tibet autonomous region Jiang Jie, who is also the executive deputy chairman of the regional government, said as a vital passageway to South Asian countries, Tibet actively integrates itself into the Belt and Road construction. It not only continuously consolidates and develops its traditional friendship, trade and cultural exchanges with neighboring countries, it has made solid steps toward promoting regional mutual benefit and integration and further collaboration, he said.

"Standing at a new historical starting point, we will stick to President Xi Jinping's concept of neighboring diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness," said Jiang Jie.

"We will strengthen the connectivity of ports, highway, railway, aviation, communication, and encourage and support more airline companies to open more lines, build a Trans-Himalaya connectivity network jointly, and to deepen the cooperation in the areas of trade, tourism, investment, and livelihood," Jiang said.

Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, consul general of Nepal in Lhasa, said Nepal and China are friendly neighbors linked by mountains, rivers and culture, and China was also the second-largest trading partner of Nepal and the volume of trade between Nepal and China has been steadily growing.

"However, Nepal's trade deficit with China has also been growing," said Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, adding in order to reduce Nepal's trade deficit with China, Nepal needed more favorable policies and technical assistance from China.

Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi, ambassador of Pakistan to China, said as one of the earliest proponents of the Belt and Road, Pakistan has always supported China and like-minded countries in strengthening international connectivity.

"People-to-people exchanges and contacts are a key component of the Belt and Road and provide the sustainable foundation for international connectivity," said Naghmana Alamgir Hashmi

"The goodwill between the peoples of Pakistan and China is the firm bedrock of the unshakable Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership for Shared Future in the New Era," she said.

"To enhance this vital aspect of our cooperation, Pakistan and China are celebrating 2019 as the year of Sister-City Exchanges."