China, India to Reopen Historic Trade Route -- china.org.cn

A historic trading route between China and India through Tibet's Nathu La Pass, which has been closed for 44 years due to border conflicts, will reopen on Thursday.

The Nathu La Pass, sitting 4,545 meters above sea level, was once a pivotal point on the ancient Silk Road.

Located 460 kilometers from Tibet's regional capital Lhasa and 550 kilometers from the Indian coastal city of Calcutta the pass was an important trade passage between China and India but closed in 1962 amid border disputes.

In line with minutes of negotiations signed between Chinese and Indian officials in Lhasa last month, the two countries will reopen the trade route Thursday with two border trade markets at Renqinggang in Tibet and Changgu in India.

A soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and an Indian soldier (L) stand guard at the Nathu La Pass on the border between China and India July 5, 2006.

Renqinggang market is 16 kilometers northeast of the Nathu La Pass. It will open from Monday through Thursday between June 1 and September 30 annually with business hours from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, said officials in Yadong County of Xigaze Prefecture where the market is located.

The reopening of the Pass is expected to give a major boost to bilateral trade between the world's two most populous nations. It totaled US$18.7 billion in 2005 and is expected to top US$20 billion this year.

The photo taken on July 5, 2006 shows the gates and pavilions for the reopening ceremony of the China-India trade route at Nathu La Pass on the border.

"The reopening of border trade will help end economic isolation in this area and play a key role in boosting the market economy there," said Hao Peng, vice chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region.

The move is also helpful to improving relations between the two countries, said Dr. Christy Fernandez, additional secretary of the Indian Department of Commerce.

With the reopening of the trade route and Saturday's launch of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway experts say the two countries will be able to revive the ancient Silk Road by shipping goods from China's inland areas to India and other parts of South Asia via Tibet.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)