KATHMANDU, Sept 9: Nepal has successfully imported goods from a third country through Chinese ports, marking a significant milestone seven years after the Nepal-China transit agreement was signed. A shipment of turmeric, originating from Vietnam, made its way into Nepal via China's Tianjin port.

The arrival of this third-country container was celebrated in Kathmandu, with Commerce Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song extending their warm welcome. Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, President of the International Chamber of Commerce, noted that importing goods through the China route proved both cost-effective and time-efficient. He highlighted that goods imported from Vietnam to China reached Nepal 20 days faster than those imported via Kolkata.

The journey towards this achievement began on March 21, 2016, when then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli signed the Nepal-China Transit Agreement in Beijing. In 2019, the protocol to implement this treaty was signed, allowing Nepal to import goods through six Chinese ports. These ports include Tianjin, Shenzhen, Liungyang, and Zhangjing sea ports, as well as Lanzayu, Lhasa, and Sigatse dry ports.

Despite the passage of eight years since the transit agreement, the importation of goods from third countries through China remained unrealized until now.

The Department of Customs confirmed this historic moment, emphasizing that goods produced in a third country, Vietnam in this case, successfully cleared customs and entered Nepal via China. Punya Bikram Khadka, Customs Information Officer, stated that this marked the first instance of goods arriving in Nepal through China following the Nepal-China trade agreement.

Dayanand KC, Chief Customs Administrator of Tatopani Customs, confirmed that the imported turmeric from Vietnam had undergone customs inspections and was cleared for entry into Nepal. The turmeric shipment was imported by businessman Tribhuvan Ratna Tuladhar.

 
• Nepal
 
• China
 
• trade