Chinese officials started preparation to release the stranded goods after Tatopani Customs Office, on the request of traders, took the initiative for the same.Frequent landslides along the Tatopani section of Araniko Highway had affected shipment of goods to Nepal.
A 13-member team of Chinese officials, including chief of Khasa-based Chinese customs office, arrived at the Khasa-based warehouse earlier this week to release Nepal-bound goods. They started the process to release goods after holding two rounds of meetings with Nepali customs officials.
As many as 70 Nepali containers have reached Khasa to receive the consignments.
Locals had briefly halted movement of containers, demanding Nepali and Chinese officials to open the customs point on a permanent basis. However, they withdrew their protest after authorities expressed commitment to work for resuming regular operation of the customs point.
"It has come to our knowledge that Chinese authorities have begun the process to release Nepali goods," Dibya Raj Pokharel, chief of Tatopani Custom Office, told Republica.
Tatopani customs point is one of the largest trading points in the country. Goods worth around Rs 18 billion are imported to the country through the customs point annually. Similarly, products worth around Rs 3 billion are exported to China annually through Tatopani customs. The government had mobilized around Rs 5 billion in taxes from this customs point in the last fiscal year.
Though the trade route is not into operation since April last year, the government took initiative to open the route only after India cut supplies to Nepal. Though the Chinese authorities have showed concern to release goods stranded in Khasa, it is still unclear whether to route will resume regulation operation.
China has been developing the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung route for Nepal-China trade.
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