Nepal, China finalise protocol of trade transit agreement

Kathmandu / Sept 7: Nepal and China have finalised the draft of the much-awaited Protocol of Nepal-China Transit and Transportation Agreement that will allow Nepal to use Chinese ports for third-country trade.

In the protocol agreed during the third senior official-level meeting held in Kathmandu on September 4-6, China has agreed to grant access to Nepal to its four seaports and three dry-ports for trading with third countries. The deal has paved the way for Nepal, which had been relying on Indian ports as of now, to diversify its access to seaports and alternative routes for third-country trade.

According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies following the agreement on Thursday, China has agreed to let Nepal use Tianjin, Shenzhen, Lianyungang and Zhanjiang open seaports and Lanzhou, Lhasa and Xigatse dry ports for trading with third countries.

The Nepali side was led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rabi Shankar Sainju while Wang Shuiping, director general at the Department of Transport Services, led the nine-member Chinese delegation at the meet.

Eariler on Tuesday, the Nepali and Chinese teams carried out field visits of Kurintar in Chitwan where the proposed Nepal-China rail is expected to cross as well as a new north-south corridor to be built. They examined the road condition and geography of the area.

During the second round of talks in Beijing, the Nepali side made a visit to Tianjin sea port and inspected the facilities there. The two sides made little headway during the talks held on July 10 and 11, with some technical issues remaining as stumbling blocks.

However, with both nations agreeing and finaliSing the draft of the transit protocol this time, Nepal’s long-standing dependency on Indian seaports and using transit facilities for third country trade is likely to end.

Prime Minister KP Oli had signed the landmark Transit and Transportation Agreement during his first premiership in 2016. Courtesy: Ekantipur