The Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa organized interactions in Lomanthang and Jomsom focusing on Nepal-China trade facilitation and border management.

During the discussion in Lomanthang, Chairperson of Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, Raju Bista, and Chairperson of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, Tashi Nurbu, along with other local representatives, participated actively in the dialogue.

Chief District Office of Mustang, Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, people's representatives, social workers and chiefs of security bodies joined the Jomsom discussions.

In both interactions, participants stressed the need for basic infrastructure including water, electricity, and workforce support for a four-room building constructed by the provincial government on the Nepali side along the Nepal-China border in Korala.

As they said, this facility is intended to facilitate trade between Nepal and China.

According to them, in contrast, the Chinese side has already developed advanced physical infrastructure at the Korala transit point on their territory.

A key issue raised was the implementation of a provision that requires foreign nationals to pay a minimum of USD 500 to enter Upper Mustang, which is a restricted area.

The participants called for the immediate construction of integrated infrastructure at the Korala border point to provide immigration, customs, quarantine, and other services so as to facilitate the regulated entry of foreign nationals into Upper Mustang.

Addressing both events, Consul General Laxmi Prasad Niraula pledged to make efforts to address the concerns raised by the local stakeholders.

He also held separate discussions with senior officials from customs, immigration, local authorities, and port management offices in Drongpa, in Xizang of China. On that occasion, both the Nepali and Chinese sides expressed their commitment to taking initiatives from their respective ends to manage and operationalize the Korala border point effectively.