China has pledged to issue one-year entry passes to Nepali citizens involved in cross-border trade, extending access beyond residents of Rasuwa district to include individuals from other districts as well. Chinese officials gave the assurance during the 13th meeting of the Nepal-China Tibet (Xizang) Economic and Trade Facilitation Committee (NXTFC), held in Lhasa on June 17–18.
Currently, only residents of Rasuwa district are eligible for passes to travel up to Kerung on the Chinese side. However, during the bilateral discussions, Chinese officials indicated they are preparing a policy to extend access to drivers, co-drivers, and traders from other districts who are involved in goods transportation between the two countries, according to Bipin Acharya, Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies and the head of Nepal’s delegation.
Nepali authorities have long pressed for expanded access, arguing that the growing volume of trade through the Rasuwa border crossing, now surpassing the Tatopani route in Sindhupalchok, necessitates broader eligibility. Traders have complained that restrictions on access prevent them from inspecting imported goods directly, leaving them dependent on Chinese freight handlers.
With trade rising through the Rasuwa corridor, demand for transport workers has surged. A ministry official noted that the number of drivers required at Timure port has grown from around 150 to approximately 400. However, since drivers from outside Rasuwa are not permitted entry into China, managing passes has become increasingly difficult.
The immigration office at Rasuwagadhi currently issues one-year border entry passes, valid for travel up to 30 kilometers into Chinese territory, only to residents of Rasuwa. According to Hem Chandra Dhakal, Senior Immigration Assistant at the border post, about 19,000 such passes have been issued so far and must be renewed annually.
The bilateral meeting also covered broader trade facilitation topics, including infrastructure upgrades at border points, establishing bonded warehouses, streamlining customs procedures, and lowering logistics costs by allowing Chinese imports to be brought directly to Nepali customs checkpoints. Discussions were also held on implementing an e-pass system and introducing bilingual labeling on goods.
Nepal raised concerns over the language barrier in trade documentation, pointing out that many goods from China are labeled only in Chinese. Nepali officials requested product names be provided in both Chinese and English to reduce confusion. The Chinese delegation responded positively, stating they would facilitate dual-language labeling if Nepal provides a list of relevant products.
Other agenda items included Nepal’s request to operate a passenger bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa, and its push to export agricultural products such as dairy, mushrooms, medicinal herbs including Yarsagumba, and other high-value commodities to China. Nepal also called on China to designate official focal agencies for agricultural trade, as there is currently no formal counterpart for coordinating such exchanges, despite ongoing trade activity.
Additionally, Nepal reiterated its longstanding request for the establishment of a Chinese bank branch within the country. The proposal aims to improve financial services for traders amid growing bilateral commerce. According to officials present at the meeting, China responded that the matter would require approval from its central government but could proceed if deemed necessary.
The discussions also addressed logistical inefficiencies in cross-border transport. Currently, goods must be offloaded and reloaded multiple times due to the lack of direct access for Chinese and Nepali freight vehicles to each other’s customs yards. Nepali officials argued that allowing trucks from both sides to travel directly to designated customs facilities would streamline operations and reduce costs.
