As developing countries weigh the consequences of borrowing heavily from China for major infrastructure projects, anti-corruption officials in Nepal have begun an investigation into a flagship airport financed and built by Chinese state-owned companies.
Nepal’s $216 million international airport in Pokhara, the country’s second-biggest city, opened in January.
China agreed to provide loans to build the airport more than a decade ago.
Nepal tapped China CAMC Engineering, the construction arm of a state-owned conglomerate, Sinomach, as the contractor.
Nepali officials have asked Beijing to change the loans into a grant to ease the financial burden, but China has not agreed to do so.
Persons:
CAMC
Organizations:
China CAMC Engineering, New York Times, Civil Aviation Authority
Locations:
China, Nepal, Pokhara, Beijing