KATHMANDU –India gets a foreign policy blow as China gave Nepal access toits ports for trade with China and beyond bringing an end to landlockedHimalayan nation’s heavy dependence on Indian ports for global trade.
Kathmandu and Beijing finalized a transit protocol giving final shape tothe framework treaty signed between the two countries when Nepal PrimeMinister K P Oli visited China in March 2016 in the wake of economicblockade by India which left the country short of fuel and medicine forseveral months.
The deal has paved the way for Nepal, which had been relying on Indianports as of now, to diversify its access to seaports and alternative routesfor trade.
An official release said the formalization of the agreement allows thetransit of goods from other countries to Nepal via all of China’s ports,including Tianjin, Shenzhen, Lianygang, Zhanziang and dryports that includeLhanzin, Lhasa and Shigatse.
Overland trade to and from Nepal is now routed mainly through Kolkata whichtakes up to three months, officials said. New Delhi has also opened thesouthern port at Vishakhapatnam for Nepali trade.
The nearest Chinese port is also located more than 2,600 km from Nepal’sborder.
Beijing and Kathmandu are also in talks for building a railway link intoNepal, constructing an electric transmission line and are conducting afeasibility study for a free trade agreement.