China opens second land port in Nepal to boost trade with South Asia

BEIJING: In a major boost for bilateral trade between China and Nepal, a second cross-border trading route has come into operation in Tibet, allowing the communist trading giant to expand its trade with South Asia.

China yesterday officially opened the Gyirong Port on the Rasuwagadhi border in Nepal, the second land route for bilateral trade, state-run media reported.

"It will further help both sides facilitate bilateral trade and boost tourism and cooperation," said Zhang Hongbo, Deputy Party chief of Xigaze prefecture in the Tibet autonomous region, where the port is located.

For long, the Tatopani border served as the sole trade route between China and Nepal.

"Operation of the port means a solid foundation for China to build the South Asia trading area and it will help to promote trade between China and South Asian countries in the near future," said Su Yuanming, director of the Port Administrative Office of Tibet.

Gyirong Port was built in 1962. Trade at the port began to drop off in the mid-1980s and continued to decline through 2006. Port staff were then temporarily moved.

According to the government of the Tibet autonomous region, trade between the two countries has been increasing in recent years and Khasa Port - Tibet's biggest land port - could not meet the demand.

"Since 2008, preparatory projects to expand the port have been launched, including equipping the port with inspection and supportive services, completion of Shyaphru Road, and operation of the China-Nepal Friendship Bridge," said Penpa, director of the region's Department of Commerce.

Hari Prasad Bashyal, consul general of Nepalese Consulate in Lhasa, said the operation of the port will enhance and promote trade and commerce, tourism, infrastructure, development, people-to-people exchanges and the socio-economic development of both nations.

From January to November, trade volume at Gyirong Port reached 1,600 metric tonnes with a total value of more than $4.55 million, almost double the value of the past three years combined, Phurbu Dondrub, Deputy director of Tibet's Xigaze Customs said.