Monday, March 10th, 2025

Are Iran, Italy paying hefty price for ties with China?


19 March 2020  

Time taken to read : 3 Minute


  • A
  • A
  • A

KATHMANDU: The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan of China, has now swept through 176 countries, infected close to 221,268 people worldwide, and is responsible for more than 8,997 deaths as of March 19.

Citing the COVID-19’s transmission route, the social media users have gone sarcastic about the name China has given to reviving its ‘Silk Road’ the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and have asked it to rename ‘One Belt One Road One Virus.’

The twitter originating from Europe is getting ‘trending’ these days. Italy and Iran the second and third corona hard-hit countries are known to be soft towards China’s unabated expansionism and ‘imperialism’ in a new form.

The Chinese claim about its successful taming of COVID-19 is also not much trustworthy as most of the information comes after manipulation by the state.

In this condition, supporting the BRI project or attempting to lead it further through Chinese workers can turn a call for being ‘hard hit’.

China is leading the world in the number of confirmed cases and deaths. What many people find shocking is that Italy and Iran are the second- and third-hardest hit nations in this outbreak.

Social media users say both countries, Iran and Italy, though geographically far from the epicenter of the outbreak, have been suffering now mainly due to their close ties with Beijing – especially through the BRI.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Publish Date : 19 March 2020 18:52 PM

JSP Nepal to add more office bearers and executive members

KATHMANDU: Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal has decided to expand

Gold price sees modest increase

KATHMANDU: The price of gold has seen a slight rise

RPP Nepal calls meeting of office bearers

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) Chair Kamal Thapa has

Gyanendra Shahi accuses PM Oli of involving Yogi Adityanath’s photo in former King’s reception

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi has

Eight rescuers who went to save fisherman trapped on cliff in Bajura

BAJURA: A fisherman died after falling from a cliff in