KIMATHANKA, SANKHUWASABHA: A total of 14 traditional border trade points connected with northern neighbour China, including Kimathangka in Sankhuwasabha have come into operations from Saturday.

The Chinese government had closed various border checkpoints since 2076 BS in view of the fear of COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of Tibet Autonomous Region Silang Nima jointly announced resumption of all 14 trade points along the Nepal-China border, including Kimathanka, in an event organized today in Chhentang, China.

Talking to media persons at Tumlingtar Airport in Sankhuwasabha during the announcement of reopening of trade points, DPM Shrestha said operation of the traditional border transit points has been officially announced today.

He informed that seven checkpoints have come into operations from today onward while seven others will be re-opened soon.

Shrestha further shared that 14 trade points sharing border with China, including Kimathangka have been resumed after continuous diplomatic follow-ups on part of the government.

The DPM said that it was agreed to resume the traditional trade points during his official visit to China in last March the both sides.

DPM Shrestha was accompanied by Chief Minister of Koshi Province Hikmat Kumar Karki, joint secretaries at the Ministry of Home and Foreign Affairs, Chief District Officer, chief of district security agency on the occasion.

Locals of Bhotkhola are found euphoric after reopening of Kimathangka border point.

In the past, the local residents used to import food from nearby Chinese market via the trade point.

The customs office was established in 2035 BS in Kimathangka.

After the decade-old armed conflict in the country, the border customs office at Hatia in Bhotkhola was shifted to Khandbari in 2057 BS.

Kimathangka point is 162 km far from the district headquarters, Khandbari.

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