BEIJING, May 5 -- The "Belt and Road" initiative will benefit the world, particularly the countries along the routes, Mahesh Kumar Maskey, Nepal's ambassador to China, said in a written interview with Xinhuanet lately.

The potential of the "Belt and Road" initiative is presenting to the world with an alternative model for peaceful and environmental friendly development, he added.

"It serves as an example of win-win cooperation through trade, commerce, culture and tourism," he stressed, "More importantly, it will provide impetus for national rejuvenation for those countries linked by this initiative."

"Asia, the Middle East and Europe were linked by the ancient Silk Road and southern branch of the road passed through Nepal to Magadh of India. Similarly, the maritime silk road is a another important route connecting the countries and regions of Asia, the Middle East and Europe," he said.

The Silk Road not only promoted the commercial prosperity, but also boosted cultural exchanges -- one of them the exchange among the religions of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity along the route, the ambassador added.

"Nepal's famous scholar monk Buddhabhadra who collaborated with Chinese scholar monk Fa Xien in translating several classic Buddhist scriptures came to China in the 5th century AD through this route," he said.