Cross-border trade through the Rasuwagadhi border point resumed on Sunday after remaining closed for six months due to flood damage to the Nepal–China Friendship Bridge.
The bridge over the Bhotekoshi River, a tributary of the Trishuli River, was swept away by a flash flood triggered by a glacial lake outburst in China on July 8. The disaster disrupted bilateral trade through one of Nepal’s key land routes with China.
According to government officials, trucks began heading toward Kerung from the Nepali side around 7:00 am on Sunday. Rasuwa Chief District Officer Rajesh Panthi said construction of a Bailey bridge over the Lhende River (Bhotekoshi) at the Nepal–China border has been completed. He added that Chinese authorities have informed Nepal that the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint will be formally reopened from January 1, 2026.
Inspector Bikram Kunwar of the Timure border police post said Nepali truck and container drivers, along with representatives of business firms, have already departed for Kerung to retrieve cargo containers stranded there since before July 8. The containers had crossed into Kerung to transport goods prior to the floods and landslides that damaged the bridge.
Chief Customs Officer Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai said the six-month closure of the trade route resulted in a customs revenue loss of around Rs 20 billion compared to the same period last year. Trade activities were suspended after floods washed away the Friendship Bridge over the Lhende Khola, forcing businesses to shut down from July 8.
The floods also damaged the under-construction dry port at Timure and destroyed several sections of the 16-kilometre Rasuwagadhi–Syafrubesi road.
Following the disruption at Rasuwagadhi, Nepal–China land-based trade was rerouted through the Korala border point over the past few months. Trade through the Korala checkpoint surged to Rs 11.01 billion within three months of its full operation, positioning Mustang Customs as a key gateway for bilateral commerce.
According to Mustang Customs Chief Ramesh Khadka, the Korala checkpoint, which became fully operational on September 15, recorded imports and exports worth Rs 11.01 billion by December 25. Of this total, imports from China accounted for Rs 10.83 billion, while Nepal’s exports—including handicrafts and other locally produced goods—reached Rs 189.78 million.
Along with the Tatopani–Khasa route, the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung corridor has long been a vital lifeline for Nepal–China overland trade. China facilitated the operation of the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung route mainly after the devastating 2015 earthquake.
A 17-point protocol signed between Nepal and China in March 2016 aims to promote bilateral trade through six border points—Tatopani, Kerung, Kimanthanka, Korala, Yari and Olangchungola. Of these, Kimanthanka, Yari and Olangchungola are yet to be operational for commercial trade.
