By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 27 – Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola today said Nepal and China have agreed in principle to add two more trade routes in the Nepal-Tibet border to facilitate increased trade between the two countries.

The two new transit points are Kimathanka and Lizi, besides the existing Tatopani, Yari, Kerong and Olanchugola.

Bastola was speaking to the press at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival after a week-long visit to China which began on 19th of this month. He had been invited to China to mark the 45th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China.

China has also suggested Nepal to construct an alternative road and make viable the existing road link between Nepal and Tibet, the Arniko Highway. This Kathmandu-Kodari Highway, known as Khasa Highway in the Tibetan side, goes all the way to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China.

When asked if alternative road link was to be built joining Rasuwa with Tibet, the Foreign Minister said, “They (the Chinese) are examining the possibility.”

Nepal has already built a road from Galchhi-Trishuli-Rasuwa sector. Just 10 km beyond it lies Tibet. Once this gap is connected by road, it could be another road link between Nepal and Tibet.

Another major development during Bastola’s visit has been China’s “positive response” to Nepal’s request to help in the development of northern region of Nepal, bordering Tibet.

Bastola also raised the issue of trade imbalance between Nepal and China. “I told the Chinese the imbalance has to be given a serious thought and they have assured to look into it,” said Bastola.

Nepal and China signed an agreement of 50 million Yuan as grant-in-aid to Nepal. The Minister did not elaborate and merely said that the technical and economic grants “are routine matters”.

Referring to the reported Chinese encroachment of Nepalese land, Bastola said, “We need proof before we can raise the issue.” He denied that proof has been provided.

A team of Nepali researchers had found hundreds of historical documents related to “Nepal-China border controversy” and thousands of years of old pre-historic arrow-heads in Upper Arun area in northern Sankhuwasabha district.

Foreign Minister Bastola said discussion on sensitive border issues was long overdue. “Nepal, India and China should revive dialogue on Kalapani,” he said. Kalapani is a common border point between the three countries.

“The tripartite talks were overdue in 1998,” said Bastola. However, he said, that there was no discussion between Nepal and China on Kalapani, a Nepalese area occupied by India since the Indo-China war of 1962.

“We are going to discuss the issue in the right forum soon,” added the foreign minister. He said there was a forum precisely to discuss the contentious issue, declining to name it.