The 14 trade points along the border with China that were closed for five years due to the coronavirus pandemic have been reopened from Saturday. The announcement of the opening of the 14 trade points, including the Kimathanka of Sankhuwasabha, was made during a program on Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and his team also visited the Kimathanka of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and observed it.
The chairperson of the program, Sila Nima, and Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha announced the reopening of the 14 trade points during a ceremony on Saturday.
Minister Shrestha said that the three trade points that were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic were reopened on Saturday after four years of negotiations, discussions, and agreements between Nepal and China’s high-level political leadership.
He expressed confidence that the opening of the trade points would contribute to the interaction, trade, and cultural exchange of the people in the border areas. He said that the trade points in Darchula, Dolpa, Mustang, Gorkha, Dolakha, Taplejung, and Kimathanka of Sankhuwasabha were opened from Saturday and that the Chinese side would open the other seven trade points at a specified time.
“There were continuous discussions and negotiations between the two countries for a long time to reopen the traditional trade points,” he said, “During the goodwill visit to China in Chait, there was an understanding to gradually open all the traditional trade points in the border areas.”
The reopening of the 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathanka, was celebrated in a ceremony led by Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha.
The Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmatkumar Karki, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Chairperson of Bhote Khola Rural Municipality, Vanchhedar Bhote, the Chief District Officer, Dhruvabahadur Khadka, and the heads of the security agencies based in the district were present in the ceremony.
After the opening of the trade points, the Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, Bhote, expressed his relief for the people of Bhote Khola. “Five years ago, after the trade points were closed, the daily essentials, such as food and fuel, became expensive as they had to be brought from the distant Khadbari market,” he said, “Now, it has become easier to bring them from the cheaper Dendang and Chhagga markets.”
He said that despite many efforts, the trade points could not be opened. After the opening of the trade points, the people of Kimathanka, Chamtang, Chepuwa, and Hatiya have been provided with relief. The goods had to be carried from the Khadbari market, which increased the cost of the goods. The road to the Khadbari market is not in good condition, and the road to the Kimathanka market is under construction. The distance to the Kimathanka market is 162 kilometers.
With the opening of the trade points in the northern region, he said that the presence of the state in the border areas would be ensured. “The state’s revenue will increase,” he said, “The sale of local products and employment generation will be easier. The traditional handicrafts of the Himalayan region will have easy access to the Chinese market.”
