Nepal-China have reopened 14 border points for trade and people-to-people movement after years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. The move is to boost economic ties between the two countries.
After a four-year shutdown, Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha and thirteen other trans-Himalayan trading stations along the Nepal-China border have reopened. The commercial and social relations between China and Nepal have reached a significant turning point with this reopening.
The official reopening ceremony followed in the Tibetan city of Chentang and was presided over by Vice-Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Silang Nima and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Narayan Kaji Shrestha. This cooperation is deemed as a significant milestone of the bilateral relations of Nepal and China, since its purpose is to enhance the trade, economic relations and cooperation between the two countries.
The border reopening will allow our remote settlements direct access to markets in Tibet again for their supplies and trade,” said Wang Chhedar Bhote, Chairman of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha district.
These borders shut down in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic and significantly impacted Nepali trade, the seasonal migration for work, or residents residing in remote Himalayan areas close to Tibet. The reopening is expected to ease the lives of those living close to the border since it will enable the purchase of necessities and encourage cross border business.
According to the Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal’s imports from China had plunged by over 27% in the last fiscal year due to the prolonged border closures, severely straining supply chains.
The reopening of the Nepal-China border at these 14 trading points marks a new era in cross-border cooperation, promising a brighter future for trade, commerce, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
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Also Read: https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/05/26/14-trading-points-along-nepal-china-border-reopen
