A joint Nepal-China team has inspected border pillars along the Himalayan frontier with the aim of strengthening cooperation and trust.

The inspection was conducted at the Kimathanka border point in ward 1 of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha.

Representatives from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police joined eight Chinese police officers in the inspection, which included checking border pillars 66, 67, 68/2, 69/1 and 69/2 and conducting a clean-up campaign in the surrounding areas.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Baburam Paudel, chief of APF No. 4 Arun Battalion, there are 21 border pillars in the northern part of Sankhuwasabha. Some of them have been damaged or put at risk by natural disasters and difficult terrain, in the eastern part of Nepal.

In June, floods in the Donggoppa and Chhokang streams washed away pillar 71/1.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Daksha Kumar Basnet of the district police office said wards 1, 2 and 3 of Bhotkhola border with China. Around 5,000 people live in the area, most of whom depend on cross-border trade, livestock rearing and agriculture.

He said difficult terrain, natural disasters and lack of infrastructure continue to affect daily life.

Established in 2019, the Kimathanka Border Outpost has played a key role in security and border surveillance. Rural Municipality chair Wangchedar Bhote said the outpost has helped curb smuggling, prevent illegal activities and improve emergency response.

Officials said the main purpose of the latest inspection was to record the condition of the pillars and clean the surroundings. They added that such joint activities will continue to deepen coordination and cooperation with China.

Residents have expressed hope that such initiatives will help ensure peace, security and smooth trade in the border region.