RASUWA, June 25: The Rasuwagadhi Bridge where transportation had been halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic will come back into operation within this week. As agreed during the meeting between the border security committees of the two countries on Wednesday, the bridge will come into operation following a few conditions set by the two sides.  

Chief of Rasuwa Customs Office, Punya Bikram Khadka mentioned about the agreement between the two parties to re-open the border point within a week stating that the Chinese side will bring goods up to the Miteri Bridge after the bridge re-opens. According to Khadka, initially, the Chinese side will bring four trucks of goods up to the Miteri Bridge for trial.

Following the agreement, the Nepali side will have to provide the details of 15 drivers and 15 workers to the Chinese side. Right after the details are provided, the Chinese side will start sending goods stuck in Paangsing. The drivers as well as workers to be sent will be checked on a regular basis. These people will not be allowed to cross areas beyond the Miteri bridge and a separate area prohibited for passengers will be allocated.

Considering the elevating fears of Covid-19 spread in China starting from December last year, the border was sealed back in January this year. Among the two border points with China, the border point of Tatopaani, Sindhupalchowk has already re-opened. However, the Rasuagadhi border point couldn’t reopen due to the objection by locals who feared the transmission of the virus.

Out of many goods imported from China, fruits, readymade goods, electronic gadgets, equipment required for telecom and hydropower projects are among the prominently imported ones.

Similarly, goods like Bamboo products, wooden tables, broom grass (amrisho) and some handmade products are exported from Nepal.

Rasuwagadhi border point that officially came into use from 2015, registers more than 250 vehicles carrying goods for import and export on a daily basis. The numbers of trade and traders and cargo trucks passing by had largely increased in Rasuwagadhi after China officially declared this border point as one of its international borders. The Keirung Valley of Tibet is just 24 kilometers away from this border. Although the border was closed in January, traders from Keirung were still using this border to travel back and forth until February.

 
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