Bilateral trade between Nepal and China has restarted through two major land routes that had been closed for over a month due to floods and landslides.
The Tatopani-Khasa border point reopened on Sunday, followed by the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route, which resumed operations on Tuesday morning. Traders are now importing goods in preparation for the Tihar festival through these points.
The Tatopani Customs Office reported a steady flow of imports, with numerous trucks carrying fruits and clothing entering Nepal over the past three days. Chief Customs Officer Kamal Kumar Bhattarai noted that about a dozen trucks have cleared customs, while 50 more are awaiting clearance.
The Tatopani-Khasa customs point had been closed since September 27, when floods destroyed two bridges on the Araniko Highway connecting Nepal to China. The damaged bridges at Larcha and the road segment from 10 Kilo to Pangsirpu hampered trade significantly.
Similarly, goods for upcoming festivals have started arriving through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route after Chinese authorities allowed vehicle movement. On Tuesday alone, at least 50 trucks carrying imported goods entered Nepal, according to Rasuwa Customs information officer Rabindra Pyakurel.
Floods and landslides had previously affected a 24-kilometer road segment on the Kerung side, leaving around 600 containers of goods stranded for nearly a month. Chinese authorities have informed Nepali officials that only vehicles carrying goods up to 13 tons will be allowed one-way passage through the border. Additionally, they have set specific crossing times: imports from Kerung can occur between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, while exports are permitted from 4:00 PM onwards, citing road maintenance.
After the devastating earthquake on April 25, 2015, China had closed the borders for eight years. The Tatopani-Khasa route only reopened for two-way trade on May 1, 2023, with pedestrian movement beginning on September 1 of the same year. The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border also resumed operations on April 1, 2023, though both points have faced intermittent closures.
Nepal Establishes Immigration Office at Korala Border
In a related development, Nepal has opened an immigration office at Korala along the Nepal-China border, located in Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang. The District Administration Office in Mustang announced that the office will be operational in the coming days, facilitating easier cross-border movement of people and goods. China has agreed to fully operationalize 14 trading points along the Nepal-China border.
