Kathmandu, 21 Aug: The Nepal government has made public its clear position on the agreement between India and China to make Lipulek a trade hub.
Nepal has made its clear position public through the ‘Foreign Affairs Spokesperson’s Response to Media Questions on Border Trade between India and China via Nepali Land Lipulek’.
The public foreign affairs spokesperson’s response on Wednesday said, “The official map of the country has been included in the constitution of Nepal, and the Nepalese government is clear that Limpiyadhura, Lipulek, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River are integral parts of Nepal.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response, “It is also known that the Nepalese government has been requesting the Indian government not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion, border trade in the said area. It is also known that even the friendly country China has been formally informed about the fact that the said area is Nepali territory.”
In response, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated Nepal’s commitment that it is always ready to resolve the border issue between Nepal and India through diplomatic means.
“The Government of Nepal has been committed to resolving the border issue between the two countries through diplomatic means, based on historical treaties and agreements, facts, maps and evidence, in accordance with the spirit and spirit of the close and friendly relations between Nepal and India,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a response.
The agreement reached between India and China on Wednesday is linked to Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Which has brought the border dispute back into the debate. Nepal has been maintaining that neighboring countries should not make any agreements on its territory without consulting it.
Through the Lipulek route, trade between China and India has been taking place since 1954: India
India has made its official response to the comments on the Lipulek agreement with China public. Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to journalists’ questions, dismissed Nepal’s claim, saying that trade between India and China through Lipulek has been going on for decades.
He said, “Trade between India and China through the Lipulek Pass has been ongoing since 1954. Both sides have agreed to resume this trade, which has been disrupted in recent years due to Covid and other reasons.”
Regarding Nepal’s comments on this, Spokesperson Jaiswal said, “Nepal’s claims regarding the border are not based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral and artificial claims are unacceptable.”
