Kathmandu, Sept 22: The government has intensified diplomatic efforts to reopen the Tatopani-Kodari border crossing, a major Nepal-China trade route that has remained closed for nearly two months.
Continuous rain, floods, landslides and geographical risks have disrupted cross-border trade, tourism and supply chains. Despite diplomatic notes, formal talks and informal discussions with China, no reopening date has been fixed.
Tatopani Customs chief Kamal Kumar Bhattarai said landslides at three locations on the Nepali side initially halted movement. China later sent a diplomatic note temporarily closing the crossing because of geographical risks.
Imports were diverted through the Rasuwa route, but the Bhotekoshi flood also shut that crossing. With both major northern trade routes closed, traders have been forced to use the Korala border.
Tribhuvandhar Tuladhar, president of the China-Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said Korala has adequate facilities but high transport costs and truck cartels on the Nepali side have made trade expensive. The increased cost has also pushed up consumer prices.
Rastriya Swatantra Party organisation department chief Pramod Neupane and lawmaker Bharat Prasad Parajuli have urged the government to accelerate diplomatic efforts to reopen Tatopani.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies said it had held informal discussions with Chinese Embassy representatives. Chinese officials reportedly said higher authorities were considering the matter and assessing conditions at the border.
The ministry has asked the Foreign Ministry to provide diplomatic support and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to repair roads. It is also coordinating with the Home Ministry on border security and with the Finance Ministry and Customs Department on customs operations.
Customs Department Director General Yamlal Bhusal said China had not yet provided a clear response, making it impossible to say when the crossing would reopen.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said Nepal was maintaining regular contact with China through diplomatic talks and exchanges of notes.
China accounts for about 20.28 percent of Nepal’s total imports. Nepal has designated 40 customs points for foreign trade, but only 28 are active. Around 10 customs offices are located along the Chinese border, while seven other crossings record no trade.
Tatopani and Rasuwa remain Nepal’s principal trading routes with China because they offer shorter and cheaper access. Traders and government agencies have therefore stressed the need to restore the Tatopani-Kodari crossing quickly.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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