Citing the Department of Finance in Tibet, Chinese state news agency Xinhua stated that 1.2 billion yuan would be spent to build various infrastructure to open the border point for international trade. The agency also mentioned that China had decided in 1987 to develop the Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong border point into an A-grade facility.

A motorable bridge about 100 m long is being constructed at Rasuwagadhi to link Nepal as a gift from China.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has announced plans to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Nepal by 2020. As per the scheme, the rail line will be linked to Rasuwagadhi in Nepal through the Shigatse-Kyirong stretch. China has already constructed a blacktopped road up to the Nepal border from its national highway linking Tingri, Lhatse and Shigatse.

“China has almost finished building the customs and immigration offices, police check post and port on its side. So the Chinese side has stressed operating the border point by October,” said Nepal’s Consul General in Lhasa Hari Prasad Basyal. The Tatopani border post, the only trade route between Nepal and China, has been put out of operation by the devastating landslide at Mankha, Sindhupalchok which blocked the Araniko Highway along the Sunkoshi River.

Basyal said China wanted to operate the Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong border post soon as an alternative route.

During former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Nepal, the two countries had agreed to open six border points, including Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong, for mutual trade promotion. Basyal said that Nepal had urged China to construct a dry port in Rasuwagadhi. China aims to develop Kyirong into an international trade centre.

Analysts said China wanted to link up with India and other South Asian countries through this border post. The 265-km long road linking Rasuwa-Trishuli-Raxaul is the shortest land route between India and China.

The Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong border point is all set for a test operation but the Nepali side is not yet ready to do so. However, the consul general claimed that the Nepal government had been working to open the historic border point as scheduled. The Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong road was a busy trade route during the Lichchhavi and Malla periods in Nepal.

However, preparations to operate the border point have been progressing slowly on the Nepali side. “We have recently finished acquiring the required land. We have a building to house offices for normal work,” said Rasuwa’s Chief District Officer Uddhav Bhattarai. He added that the border point could be operated while various infrastructure was being constructed and that a monitoring team would soon reach Rasuwagadhi to set up an immigration office.

Rasuwagadhi is connected with Kathmandu through Syaphrubesi and Dhunche.

Economic and Technical Committee to be revived

KATHMANDU: Nepal and China have agreed to reactivate the secretary-level Economic and Technical Committee to solve bilateral economic and trade problems. A meeting of the mechanism has not taken place since 2007.

During a meeting between Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng in Beijing, the two sides agreed to hold the meeting of the committee regularly, which should take place every year in the two countries alternatively. During the meeting, Mahat asked the Chinese side to make diplomatic intervention over the nonpayment of the guarantee amount by a Chinese contractor to the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

The Nepal government terminated contract with the contractor for unsatisfactory performance. Mahat also drew China’s attention over the slow progress in the implementation of the West Seti Hydropower Project. He urged the Chinese Commerce Minister to establish a joint-venture bank in Nepal to ease trade between the two countries. (PR)