china supporting reconctruction of nepal one year after earthquake

china supporting reconctruction of nepal one year after earthquake

India and China rushed rescue teams and other assistance to earthquake-hit Nepal, a strategically important neighbor for the two Asian giants, which are jostling for influence in the Himalayan nation.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has sought to rebuild India’s position as a regional power, responded quickly after the massive quake, assuring his counterpart in Nepal of “support and assistance during this tough time,” according to a tweet from his personal account.

By the end of the day Saturday, four Indian aircraft carrying nearly 300 disaster-response personnel and a mobile hospital had landed in the Nepalese capital Katmandu. More aircraft landed Sunday carrying food, medical supplies and rescue equipment, India’s Foreign Ministry said.China responded by sending a 62-member search-and-rescue team to Nepal on Sunday, along with six sniffer dogs and medical equipment, the Chinese government’s news agency Xinhua said.China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was coordinating with other agencies and providing about $3.2 million in tents, blankets, generators and other materials to be sent by charter flights to Nepal.The U.S. also ramped up disaster assistance for Nepal, with several aid groups dispatching humanitarian specialists, search-and-rescue workers and badly needed supplies. The government set aside an initial $1 million for relief organizations to address urgent humanitarian needs.Chinese leaders sent messages expressing shock at the disaster and condolences to victims’ families.The Chinese side is willing to offer all necessary disaster assistance to the Nepalese side,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said.India has long seen Nepal as part of its sphere of influence. China has been making inroads for decades, and the rivalry with India has gathered momentum with the increasing pace of Chinese investment in recent years.This pattern has emerged across South Asia, from the island-nations of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Mauritius to Bangladesh and Pakistan, where an expanding Chinese footprint has spurred Indian officials to reinvigorate India’s often fraught relationships with its neighbors.