Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the country's second international airport in the western city of Pokhara on Wednesday, which will be constructed with the financial assistance of the Chinese government.

The prime minister laid the foundation stone of the Pokhara Regional International Airport to be constructed at Chinedanda in Kaski District, some 200 kilometres from the Nepalese Capital Kathmandu.

Prime Minister Oli and country's ruling and opposition party leaders put the bricks at the foundation of the much-awaited airport at the presence of thousands of local people and businessmen.

The airport's foundation-laying ceremony was held on the occasion of the Nepalese New Year in the Nepal's major tourism destination Pokhara.

People in Pokhara performed traditional cultural programs in different parts of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Oli said that the Nepalese government has a plan to connect Pokhara and Lumbini cities with the Qinghai-Tibet Railway which is expected to be expanded up to Kerung of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China by 2020.

He thanked the Chinese government for extending financial support to construct the airport.

Former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Jhalanath Khanal, Deputy Prime Ministers Kamal Thapa and Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar Nepali Congress General Secretary Sashanka Koirala, Tourism Minister Ananda Pokharel, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai and lawmakers of Nepal's various political parties were present at the inaugural ceremony of the airport.

Delivering his speech, Former Prime Minister and Chairman of ruling UCPN (Maoist) Mr. Prachanda stressed on unity among the political forces in order to achieve economic development and prosperity in Nepal.

While expressing gratitude to the Chinese government for extending financial support to construct the international airport, the former prime minister also expressed hope that the Chinese government will support Nepal to expand up the Chinese railway lines to Kathmandu and later on Pokhara to Lumbini.

General Secretary of the main opposition party Nepali Congress, Sashanka Koirala said that Nepal can achieve a dramatic economic development in the next five years if there is political will among the major political forces in the country.

The Chinese and Nepalese side had signed three separate deals to implement Pokhara Regional International Airport Project during the official visit of Prime Minister Oli to China from March 20-27, 2016.

The airport construction project is expected to be completed in the next four years.

First envisaged 42 years ago, the Pokhara airport is expected to boost the Himalayan country's tourism once the project is completed. Kathmandu-based Tribhuwan International Airport has been the only international airport of the country so far.