India and China have once again agreed to open bilateral trade through the Lipulekh Pass. Lipulekh Pass is a Nepali territory located 56 kilometers from Limpiyadhura on Nepal’s western border. The agreement to open border trade through the Lipulekh Pass was reached during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yi visited India on Bhadra 2 and 3 at the invitation of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday night mentioned the opening of bilateral trade through the Lipulekh Pass among the bilateral agreements. The agreement was reached during bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Point number 9 of the agreement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions the issue of reopening border trade . It says, ‘Both sides agreed to reopen border trade through the three designated trading points of Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass, and Nathu La Pass.’
After a gap of 10 years, India and China have once again talked about trade through Nepal’s Lipulekh. Earlier, in 2072 (2015), the Prime Ministers of India and China had agreed to trade through the Lipulekh Pass. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China on May 14, 2015, his counterpart Li Keqiang agreed to increase bilateral trade through the Lipulekh Pass. At that time, the joint statement issued on May 15 mentioned this agreement in point number 28.
It said – ‘Both sides agreed to expand border trade through Nathu La, Kiangla/Lipulek Pass and Shipki Lama Pass.’ There was strong opposition in Nepal to the agreement between India and China to expand trade through Nepalese territory without even informing Nepal. The Nepal government had formally objected to the agreement made by India and China. Nepal immediately sent a diplomatic note to both countries objecting to the agreement.
As the thaw in relations between India and China continues to improve, the two countries have once again agreed to trade through Nepalese territory. The Lipulekh Pass is part of Nepal on the official map released by Nepal. Relations between India and China were strained for a long time due to the clash in Galwan in 2020. However, since last year, both countries have been trying to improve relations. Both countries are holding phased talks and high-level diplomatic meetings to return to the pre-Galwan situation.
Nepal has long claimed the territory of Lipulekh-Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. However, India maintains its control over the area. The dispute between the two countries has been escalating since the new map released by India in the first week of November 2019 showed the Kalapani and Lipulekh areas within the Indian border.
After India claimed Nepal’s land as its own and showed it on the map, Nepal had sent a diplomatic note expressing its objection. It had sent a request for talks. However, after India ignored it, Nepal had released a map up to Limpiyadhura in 2077 BS.
Which is known as the ‘Chukche Map’. However, Nepal has not yet officially sent the new map to the international community. As a result, the new map released by its northern neighbor China in 2023 shows Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura on the Indian side.
