SINDHUPALCHOWK, May 1: After eight years, the main Tatopani border crossing between Nepal and China has been put into two-way operation.
Exporting Nepali products to China, the border has been operating two ways since Monday. Dayanand KC, chief officer of the Dry Port Customs Office, Tatopani, said that three containers carrying Nepali goods were sent to China at around 8:30 AM o n Monday.
Tatopani border point to reopen in May
According to KC, the containers sent to China were carrying mattresses and cane chairs. The Chinese officials welcomed the containers carrying Nepali goods with fireworks at the Miteri Bridge. Earlier, the Nepali side had delivered export materials to the bridge. Then the Chinese side received them and took them to China.
Chief Customs Officer KC said, “With the opening of export, the border has become operational on both sides. Now there is continuous trade.” He informed Republica that three containers of goods are in the process of being sent to China through the border on Tuesday.
This checkpoint, which was closed for four years after the earthquake of April 25, 2015, came into one-way operation from May 29, 2019. China has been blocking export trade and human movement from Nepal through this border. KC informed Republica that although two-way trade has been started along with exports, human movement through the border point still remains halted.
“The Chinese officials have said that they will hold a joint meeting later and take a decision on bringing the border into full operation with human movement,” he said. According to the agreement between Nepal-China commercial officials in Lhasa last month, two-way trade has been started from Tatopani.
According to the agreement, two-way trade has already resumed through Rasuwagadhi, another important border crossing between the two friendly nations. Human movement, too, has been allowed to take place through this border crossing.
