New Delhi, July 30: India and China will resume open trade through the Nathula Pass in Sikkim from August 1, marking the reopening of the historic trade route after a six year gap.
The trade route remained closed since 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Its reopening was delayed further by tensions between India and China. With bilateral relations gradually improving, authorities have decided to restore cross border trade.
India China Open Trade Returns Via Nathula Pass
The reopening of the Nathula Pass is expected to benefit hundreds of traders, transport operators and businesses in Sikkim that depend on cross border commerce.
Located at an altitude of 14,140 feet in East Sikkim, Nathula Pass is one of the world’s highest motorable mountain passes. It has served as a key gateway on the historic Silk Route, linking Tibet with Sikkim and eastern India for centuries.
The pass was closed following the 1962 India China war and remained shut for more than four decades. It was reopened for border trade in 2006, reviving commercial exchanges between the two countries.
After crossing Nathula Pass, the route connects to the Chumbi Valley in Tibet, making it an important corridor for traditional trade.
Nathula is one of the three designated trade routes between India and China. The other two are located in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The resumption of trade is expected to strengthen economic activity in the border region while supporting local livelihoods dependent on cross border commerce.
