Kathmandu–Lhasa bus service to resume

KATHMANDU, Jan 25: A direct bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa, a major commercial and cultural city of China, is set to resume.

The decision was taken at the Nepal–China Joint Meeting of Commerce Secretaries held in Lhasa on January 20 and 21, according to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. Nepali Consul General in Lhasa, Laxmi Prasad Niraula, said the start date of the Kathmandu–Lhasa bus service will be fixed through diplomatic channels.

“The Kathmandu–Lhasa bus service had briefly operated nearly two decades ago, but it was shut down within two months due to various reasons,” Niraula said. “Now, there is an agreement to restart it.” At the time, the service was operated by Sajha Yatayat.

The earlier service was suspended due to difficult road conditions from Kathmandu to Tatopani and complicated visa procedures. Niraula said diplomatic efforts will now be made to simplify the visa process.

The distance between Kathmandu and Lhasa is about 1,000 kilometers. Buses departing from Kathmandu are expected to reach Lhasa within 20 to 22 hours, travelling via Tatopani. According to Niraula, it takes around four hours to reach Tatopani from Kathmandu, while the journey from Tatopani to Lhasa can take up to 20 hours.

“There is no major issue on the road from Tatopani to Lhasa. The problem lies on the Kathmandu–Tatopani section. It is uncertain if large buses can operate smoothly on that stretch,” Niraula said.

Once the direct Kathmandu–Lhasa bus service begins, trade between Nepal and China is expected to grow further.

The Nepali delegation to the meeting was led by Commerce Secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, while the Chinese delegation was headed by His Excellency Chatro Peh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Xizang. The meeting reviewed progress on decisions and agreements from the second meeting held in Kathmandu in November 2024. Broad discussions were also held on bilateral trade, investment, transit facilitation, technical cooperation, and trade infrastructure development.

According to ministry spokesperson Netra Subedi, the meeting discussed updating the 1981 Trade and Payment Agreement, simplifying border entry passes for traders, drivers, and assistants, expediting the Tokha–Chhahare tunnel construction process, fixing fertilizer quotas, and continuing China’s zero-tariff policy for Nepal even after it graduates from the least developed country category.

Discussions were also held on providing vehicle rerouting facilities from the Chinese side during disasters.

To improve customs facilitation and border management, both sides agreed to effectively implement the Nepal–China Border Transport Agreement to cut trade time and costs, promote imports and exports through green channels with risk-based inspections, strengthen laboratory testing, exchange bilateral trade data, ease vehicle movement, and facilitate jute exports from Nepal. The two sides also committed to making law enforcement coordination more effective for border security, Subedi said.

The meeting agreed on building roads, a friendship bridge, and connecting roads between Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha district and Chen Tang in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. It also agreed to continue construction of the Inland Container Depot at Timure in Rasuwa, simplify customs procedures on both sides of the Korala border point in Mustang, speed up the process of building an ICD at Korala, discuss the Hilsa–Simikot road, facilitate construction work from Nepal’s side on the Rasuwa–Syaphrubesi road, and accelerate construction from the Chinese side.

Talks were also held on a Chinese proposal to establish a sister city relationship between Gyirong in China and a municipality in the Rasuwa district. It was agreed that the Chinese side would send a formal proposal through diplomatic channels. Both sides also agreed to move ahead with the Nepal–China high technology agriculture park project.

Both sides described the meeting as positive. It was agreed that the fourth meeting under this mechanism will be held in Nepal in 2027 on a mutually agreed date.

The Nepali delegation included senior officials from Nepal Rastra Bank, the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and the Ministry of Finance. The Chinese delegation included senior officials from the Department of Commerce of the Xizang Autonomous Region, the Foreign Affairs Office, Chinese customs, and other government bodies.