Nepal requested China for railway link to its border. According to a media report, Nepal has made this request to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and has sought Chinese support for up gradation of trading routes and early completion of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) that the northern neighbor has pledged to construct under its assistance.

During Nepal-China bilateral meeting held in presence of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Nepal requested for upgradation of Rasuwagadhi- Betrabati (Nuwakot) road section as well as the 6.2-kilometre road section of China border to Larcha ICD for easy mobility of trucks and containers.

Narayan Gopal Malego, secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, who participated in the meeting, said Nepal also requested construction of Timure ICD within a year, expansion of rail link to Jilong check post (entry point to China from Rasuwagadhi) and providing access to loaded Nepali truck containers in certain locations reports The Himalayan Times.

Citing constraint of space in parking yards at the customs points to unload goods, Nepal has asked for trucks/containers to be allowed entry to certain locations to unload goods, which would ensure vehicles are not stuck in customs waiting for their turn to unload the goods. Likewise, Nepal also requested China’s assistance for lab and quarantine equipment to enhance the capacity of labs and quarantines of the checkposts.

The meeting also discussed opening new trading routes with China. The proposed routes are Poraag (China)-Yari of Humla (Nepal), Riwa (China)-Olangchung Gola of Taplejung (Nepal), and Penan (China)-Jumla (Nepal), according to Malego. Currently, the rail route is linked to Shigatse, which is 200 km away from newly inaugurated Jilong Check post of China. Jilong-Rasuwagadhi check posts commenced operation from December 1. Nepal also proposed China to setup joint-venture bank in Nepal to encourage use of renminbi in trade with northern neighbor.