Nepal-China bilateral trade resumes via Tatopani and Kerung border crossings

Kathmandu / Oct 30: Bilateral trade between Nepal and China has resumed via two major land routes, which remained closed for over a month due to floods and landslides.

While the Tatopani-Khasa border point was brought into operation on Sunday, the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route was reopened for bilateral trade on Tuesday morning. With the resumption of the two major border points, traders have started importing Tihar-targeted goods via these border points.

The Tatopani Customs Office has reported that a number of trucks loaded with imported fruits and clothes entered Nepal in the past three days following the resumption of bilateral trade through this customs point. According to Chief Customs Officer Kamal Kumar Bhattarai, about a dozen trucks have entered while 50 others are in the process of receiving customs clearance.

The Tatopani-Khasa customs point remained closed after the floods on September 27 swept two bridges on the Araniko Highway, which connects Nepal to China via the Tatopani border crossing. The floods damaged the bailey bridges at Larcha and the connection of 10 Kilo to Pangsirpu.

Likewise, the goods targeted for festivals have started to enter Nepal through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route after the Chinese side permitted vehicle movement through the border point. With the decision coming into effect, at least 50 trucks carrying imported Chinese goods entered Nepal on Tuesday, according to Rabindra Pyakurel, information officer at the Rasuwa Customs Office.

Floods and landslides had damaged a 24-kilometer road segment on the Kerung side of the Rasuwagadhi border, leaving cargo destined for the Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals stuck on Chinese land for nearly a month. Due to this reason, around 600 containers of imported goods have been waiting in Kerung for their turn to enter Nepal.

According to Pyakurel, the Chinese authorities, however, have informed the Nepali side that they would be allowing only vehicles carrying goods up to 13 tons to travel one-way through the border. In addition, the Chinese side has set border-crossing times between 8:00 am and 11:00 am for imports from Kerung and 4:00 pm onwards for exports, citing road maintenance on their side.

After the devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015, China completely closed the borders for eight years. Two-way import and export via Tatopani-Khasa was opened only on May 1, 2023, while movement of people through the border was permitted only from September 1 of the same year. Similarly, the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point resumed its operation on April 1, 2023. Both the border points, however, have been facing closure time and again on various instances.

Nepal sets up immigration office at Korala along Nepal-China border

Nepal has set up an immigration office in Korala along the Nepal-China border. The office is located in Lo Manthang of Upper Mustang.

According to the District Administration Office, Mustang, the immigration office will be officially brought into operation in a few days. The establishment of the office is expected to ease cross-border movement of people and goods between two countries. China has agreed to fully operationalize 14 trading points along the Nepal-China border.