China, Nepal agree to promote border trade

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 ◆ China, Nepal agree to promote border trade

China and Nepal agreed in Beijing recently to promote bilateral cooperation in such areas as border trade, tourism and transportation.

The agreement, which emphasises trade and related issues between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal, was signed by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary of the Nepalese Foreign Ministry Madhu Raman Acharya during the current visit of Nepalese King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev to China.

Both China and Nepal said they believed the agreement would further boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of border trade, tourism and transportation.

They also hoped that the agreement would play an active role in improving the traditional friendship between the two peoples, especially between those living along the borders of both countries.

According to the agreement, the two sides will make full use of the Lhasa-Kathmandu Highway on a reciprocal basis to improve passenger and cargo transport, and promote cooperation between the two countries in trade, tourism and other fields.

The agreement stipulates that the two countries should protect and provide facilities for the border trade either in barter or cash.

It says that both sides should protect the safety of nationals of either side and ensure their legal rights.

The agreement also includes measures to facilitate pilgrimages and to protect wild animals and plants near the Chinese-Nepalese border.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, it was the second time that China and Nepal had signed such an agreement on trade and related issues.

The first such agreement was signed in 1956 and expired in 1996,after being extended twice and amended several times.