China assures to open Yari-Purang border point

China has pledged to bring additional Nepal-China border points in operation for the purpose of promoting bilateral trade.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Pokhara Regional International Airport on Sunday, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of China in Nepal Wang Sheng informed that the China government will open the Yari-Purang border from 2023.

The Chinese envoy’s assurance has come just a day after the northern neighbor eased cross-border movement of goods via Rasuwagadhi-Kerung land route, which remained closed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019. The Chinese authority is still mum regarding on the Tatopani-Khasa customs, another important bilateral trade route.

Nepal shares its border with the Tibet autonomous region of China in a stretch of 1,414 kilometers along the Himalayan range. China has officially opened six border points for bilateral trade via land routes, which include Kodari-Nyalam (Tatopani-Khasa), Rasuwa-Kerung, Yari (Humla)-Purang, Olangchunggola-Riwu, Kimathanka- Riwu and Nechung (Mustang)-Lizi.

However, till date, only two trade routes via Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani have become operational for commercial trading. The Chinese authorities have shut these points indefinitely since the pandemic began.

The Chinese Charge d’Affaires said the two-way trade via Rasuwagadhi-Kerung has resumed smoothly adding “China will also be facilitating Nepal to develop cross-border road connectivity.”