China agrees in principle to extend Qinghai-Tibet Railway line to Nepal border

China has reportedly agreed to Nepal's demand to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Line to the Nepal border.

According to Kantipur Online, this decision was made during the fifth Nepal-Tibet Trade Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) meeting held in Lhasa last week.

"The Chinese side has agreed to forward our proposal to the central government in Beijing," said Jib Raj Koirala, joint secretary in Nepal's Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, who led the Nepali delegation at the talks.

Nepal has also been asked to approach the Chinese Government on the issue, Koirala added.

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway reached Shigatse in August. With the 253-km track linked to Tibet's second city, the high-elevation railway has reached closer to Nepal.

Shigatse is 540 km from Kerung, the nearest Chinese town from Nepal. The bordering Nepali district of Rasuwa is 35 km from there.

The Chinese side also agreed in principle to build an alternative cargo route from Rasuwagadhi to Kathmandu. Currently, China allows only two to three containers to enter Nepal via Kerung daily, with the Khasa-Tatopani route handling the bulk of the Nepal-Tibet trade.