After eight years, the main Tatopani border crossing between Nepal and China has been put into two-way operation for trade.
Exporting Nepali products to China, the border has been operating in two ways since Monday. Dayanand KC, chief officer of Dry Port Customs Office, Tatopani said that three containers carrying Nepali goods were sent to China around 8:30 AM.
According to him, each container filled with mattress, cane chairs has been exported to China. The Chinese officials welcomed the containers with fireworks carrying Nepali goods that entered China at the Miteri bridge. Earlier, the Nepali side had delivered export materials to Miteri bridge. Then the Chinese side understood and took them to China. Chief Customs Officer KC said, “With the opening of export trade, the border became operational on both sides. Now there is continuous export trade.” He informed Republica that three containers of goods are in the process of sending to China through the border on Tuesday.
This checkpoint, which was closed for four years after the earthquake of April 25, 2015, came into one-way operation from May 29, 2019. China has been blocking export trade and human movement from Nepal. KC informed Republica that although two-way trade has been started along with exports, human movement is still halted.
“The Chinese officials have said that they will hold a joint meeting later and take a decision on bringing the border into full operation with human movement,” he said. According to the agreement between Nepal-China commercial officials in Lhasa last month, two-way trade has been started from Tatopani.
According to the agreement, Rasuwagadhi, another important checkpoint in the north, has been put into two-way operation. Human movement has also been opened through this border.
