China agrees to set up advance lab on border

Kathmandu, Mar. 29

China has agreed to consider setting up a multi-functional lab on Nepal-China border, the project which was agreed upon during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2019.

The northern neighbour has agreed to take up the project at the first meeting of the Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation which was held on Wednesday morning in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to have full operation of Rasuwagadhi-Kerung exit and entry point for two-way trade and people to people movement from April 1, 2023. Similarly, two-way trade via Tatopani-Zhangmu and passenger clearance from Yari-Pulang will be resumed from May 1, 2023.

According to the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, the meeting was co-chaired by Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal and Chen Yongqi, Executive Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

China also welcomed Nepal’s suggestion on the construction of trans-border special economic zone and to provision of technical and financial support to build infrastructures on the Nepal side at Nechung-Lizi border port. The Chinese side assured of opening up seasonal border trade points at Nepal-China border, informed the Consulate General in Lhasa in a statement.

"The discussion was focused on resuming the cross-border trade and people-to-people movement at optimum level and exploring new avenues of cooperation in border trade and cooperation including smooth operation of land ports, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, border area development, trade-related infrastructures, among others," read the statement.

While acknowledging the importance of closer economic and trade relations between two countries, the two delegations exchanged views on possible cooperation on a range of areas including the export of agricultural and livestock products such as citrus fruits, dried meat and medicinal herbal products to China.

Marasini stressed on the need for Kathmandu-Lhasa direct flights, and requested the Chinese side to resume direct flights at the earliest.

Both sides also underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the northern Himalayan region of Nepal. Chinese delegation also agreed to encourage its business community to invest in Nepal in different sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and garments.

In light of the recent policies adopted by both countries in response to COVID-19, the two sides agreed to rename the Nepal-China Joint Epidemic Prevention and Control Mechanism as the Nepal-China Coordination Mechanism on Border Trade and Cooperation.

The Nepali delegation was composed of senior officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Likewise, the Chinese delegation comprised the high-ranking officials of the Foreign Affairs Office of China’s TAR, Department of Commerce, Customs, Exit-Entry, and Department of Health.

Later in the afternoon, Marasini paid a courtesy call on Yan Jinghai, Chairman of the Government of the TAR. During the meeting, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest including the promotion of economic cooperation between Nepal and China in general and Nepal and the TAR in particular, read the statement. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 March 2023.