China and India have reached an agreement on the reopening of the border trade through the Lipulekh Pass, bypassing Nepal.
This agreement was reached between India and China on Tuesday during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to India.
Wang Yi reached Delhi on Monday as the Special Representative of China at the invitation of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is the designated Special Representative for talks on the border dispute between the two countries.
Regarding the agreements reached during this visit, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has issued a 12-point press release. The ninth point states, "Both sides agreed to the re-opening of border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass."
Lipulekh is the Nepali territory. To its north lies China's Tibet. Approximately 17 kilometers west of Lipulekh is Limpiyadhura, which Nepal has consistently claimed as the tri-junction point between Nepal, China, and India.
However, India has encroached on Nepali land, built a road to Tibet via the Lipulekh Pass, and constructed military and strategic infrastructures in this area.
This is the shortest route from the Indian capital, Delhi, to the Chinese border.
China and India have reached this agreement at a time when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is about to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in China. Prime Minister Oli is also expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit.
Previously, Nepal had consistently protested whenever these two countries made such agreements.
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