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Nepal makes new proposal for reopening of China-Nepal border

Xinhua, June 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nepal has requested China to resume trade through Zhangmu (Khasa) border point without the presence of government offices at the border point as Nepal's trade with China has been jeopardized since this trade route closed as a result of last year's deadly earthquake in Nepal.

The quake on April 25, 2015 damaged the infrastructure on both sides of border, forcing China to resettle the inhabitants of Zhangmu to Shigatse city of Tibet. China has been maintaining that it has been cautious to reopen the border as Zhangmu area is geographically vulnerable and not fit for living.

Against this backdrop, Nepal proposed the Chinese side for reopening the border without physical presence of customs, quarantine, immigration offices among others in the border area for the time being.

"We have proposed Chinese side for conducting trade with presence of a few officials from two sides at the border point while making provision of customs clearance in mutually agreed places of both countries," Jhabindra Aryal, joint secretary at the Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Xinhua on Monday.

Nepal has proposed the trading of goods only in container trucks. "Once sealed container arrives in border point, another seal is put on the container and brought to container freight station of another country," said Aryal, who also oversees China desk at the ministry.

Before the quake hit the area, Zhangmu-Tatopani border was the main trade corridor of Nepal for inland trade with China. Nepal's 25 percent of export-import used to take place through this route before the closure of border. Over 70 percent of Nepal's trade with China however, takes place through sea route via India's Kolkata port.

Currently, only Geelong (Keyrong)-Rasuwagadhi border point is operational for bilateral trade. This border point was also closed after the quake but has come into operation since October 2015. China provided fuel through this border point when Nepal faced blockade in southern border points.

This border point was officially opened in December 2014 but had remained closed after the quake before its reopening. Enditem