Rasuwagadhi transit sees arrival of imports from China

RASUWA: Import of commercial goods from China has resumed through Rasuwagadhi border. The transit point had remained shut since early August after the border crossing was shut down by the Chinese side citing Covid 19 precautionary measures. Import of goods resumed from 9:00 am on Thursday following a request for the same from the Nepali authorities met with a positive response from the visiting delegation led by Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Li Zhanshu. Goods were brought to the Nepali territory in Rasuwagadhi on Thursday morning in seven large Chinese containers. Seven more containers laden with imported commercial goods were scheduled to reach Rasuwagadhi, said Rasuwa’s Chief District Officer Nawaraj Jaisi. The security personnel stationed in the border area between Nepal and China disinfected the vehicles and public places before the Chinese cargo container entered and left the Rasuwagadhi area through Miteri bridge. Dharam Paudel, a businessperson, said goods worth Rs 2.5 billion imported from China targeting the upcoming Dashain festival had remained stuck across the border. Though late, it is a welcome move. The Rasuwagadhi transit came into formal operation in 2015, with the traders opting to resort to import and export business through a shorter Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi route. Prior to this, Tatopani was the only major transit for bringing in commercial goods imported from China to Nepal. According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, Timure, during the last fiscal year, the office has collected revenue worth Rs 7.13 billion in customs duty from the goods imported into the country.