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An inaugural function was
held at Nathu La this morning on the occasion of
resumption of border trade between India and China
through the pass. The function was presided over by
Dr. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim and H.E.
Mr. Champa Phuntsok, Chairman of the Tibet
Autonomous Region.
It may be recalled that India and China had signed
the Memorandum on Expanding Border Trade on June 23,
2003. The said Memorandum provided the use of Nathu
La for the purpose of border trade between India and
China. This is the third border trade point between
the two countries, the other two being Lipulekh pass
in Uttaranchal and Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh.
Modalities for conducting border trade between India
and China are laid out in the Memorandum on the
Resumption of Border Trade signed between the two
countries in December 1991 and the Protocol on Entry
and Exit Procedures for Border Trade signed in July
1992. All provisions of these two documents would be
applicable for border trade through Nathu La. Other
details were worked out between the two countries
last month when an Indian delegation visited the
Tibet Autonomous Region from June 17-20, 2006.
The following aspects of
border trade through Nathu La may be of interest:
i. Border Trade through Nathu La resumed on July 6,
2006 at the Changgu border trade mart at Sherathang
on the Indian side and Renqinggang trade mart on the
Tibetan side.
ii. The border trade mart shall be open from June
1-September 30 every year. It will be open to the
designated authorities of the two sides to extend or
reduce the period of trade when considered necessary
on account of exigencies like weather conditions.
iii. The border trade marts on both sides will be
open from Monday to Thursday every week; the daily
opening time for the marts for border trade shall be
from 0730-1530 hours Indian Standard Time.
iv. The traders from both sides would use trade
passes for the purpose of border trade. Trade passes
would also be issued to drivers of vehicles, which
are utilized for the purpose of border trade. To
start with, 60 four-wheeled vehicles including
passenger buses, if any, would be issued border
trade pass. This number could be increased or
decreased based on mutual agreement.
v. Border trade would be transacted for items
contained in the agreed list of commodities for
border trade between the two countries, which
presently includes 29 items for exports from India
to China and 15 items of import into India from
China.
New Delhi
July 6, 2006 |
