Lizi Port has received the green light by the Chinese side to open right on time for the Nepali Prime Minister’s China visit

Kathmandu: A new trade route/facility at the Nepal-China border: Lizi Port has received the green light by the Chinese side to open right on time for the Nepali Prime Minister’s China visit.

Lizi Port is on the Korala pass: trade facilities have been built on both sides, the Chinese side being in Lizi village in Yagra, Zhongba county in the Tibetan prefecture of Shigatse, and the Nepali side called Nechung 12 km from the border in Mustang.

The Port was developed on the basis of traditional trade point for border people of Nepal & China which is known as the “Ancient Tea Horse Road in the East & the Ancient Salt Sheep Road in the West”. Historically known as a trading point between 2 countries for salt and grains.

This has been an important passage from South Asia to Tibet. Border residents of both countries would meet at Lizi and barter goods as the market opened twice a year: in June and September lasting about 10 days each time.

In 2017, it was included in the national port opening plan, and 399 million yuan was invested to build 23 projects such as joint inspection buildings and cargo inspection channels. In 2019, the opening to the outside world was approved by the State Council.

Before the approval, Cao Wei, Secretary of the County Party Committee, visited the site for supervision in July. On Aug, Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and County Governor Norbu Tsering conducted an in-depth investigation of the construction site and even-ended up issuing on-site penalty orders to two supervision units and one construction unit for not performing their duties properly and order them to rectify.

On Sept 19, a working group led by the National Port Management Office and composed of the MoFA, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Immigration Administration inspected the Port and unanimously approved it.