MUSTANG: Three years ago, the Nepal-China northern Korala border crossing was accessible only to residents of Lomanthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities in Upper Mustang.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korala border crossing on the Tibetan side of China’s Zhongwen Plateau was opened for only limited periods each year, mainly in Asar and Bhadra.
The Chinese side used to organise short-term international trade fairs at the Korala border crossing, allowing residents of the Nepal-China border areas to purchase daily necessities. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China unilaterally closed the Korala border crossing completely for four consecutive years.
The northern Korala border crossing, which had remained closed for four years, was reopened for residents of the two rural municipalities of Upper Mustang on November 13, 2023, shortly after then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China.
Residents of the border areas welcomed the reopening, particularly after the Chinese side agreed to keep the crossing open year-round for Upper Mustang residents.
Before reopening the crossing, the Chinese side officially announced the decision by setting off fireworks in the presence of Nepali officials.
However, the crossing was not initially opened to all Nepali citizens. It was first limited to residents of Upper Mustang and was later extended to residents of Lower Mustang through the distribution of cross-border passes, known as Nechung-Liji, to facilitate movement.
Although the northern Korala border crossing was opened to Mustang residents year-round, import and export activities remained limited in volume and largely confined to local-level trade.
Residents of the border areas and some parts of Lower Mustang would travel to the Liji market on the Chinese side to purchase daily necessities for household use. However, the Chinese authorities imposed restrictions on the quantity and types of goods Nepalis could bring back into Nepal.
As a result, the Korala border crossing generated only around Rs 100 million to Rs 150 million in annual revenue for the Mustang Customs Office.
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