Nathula reopens: History at India-China border

The India-China border, despite inclement weather, bustled with activity as a huge crowd including political dignitaries from both countries gathered and members of national, international and local media poured in to witness the historic event which signifies further warming of relations between the two most populous countries of the world.

The men in uniform were up and about since the small hours to control the crowd and ensure that the inaugural function, which fell on Buddhist spiritual head, the Dalai Lama's birthday, passed off smoothly.

Soon after the opening, over 100 selected traders from Sikkim including some who traded over the border before its closure in 1962 were escorted by Chinese security officials to Renquinggang, the Chinese trade station about 30 km from Nathula, to help familiarise them with the trading facilities available there.

Similarly, traders from across the border were escorted to Sherathang, the the world's highest trading hub on the Indian side, to give them a feel of the facilities there.

While traders in India especially in Sikkim expected handsome gains in due course following resumption of business through the route, China looked upon it as a chance to make vital inroads into the vast south Asian market as Nathula is the shortest route for it to reach the ever burgeoning middleclass in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

The 29 items to be exported through the route include agricultural implements, blankets, copper products, clothes, cycles, coffee, tea, barley, rice, flour, dry fruits, vegetables, vegetable oil, molasses and candy, tobacco, snuff, spices, shoes, kerosene oil, stationery, utensils, wheat, liquor, milk processed product, canned food, cigarettes, local herb, palm oil and hardware.

The 15 imports from China would be goat skin, sheep skin, wool, raw silk, yak tail, yak hair, china clay, borax, seaibelyipe rpy seaibelyipe, butter, goat kashmiri, common salt, horses, goats and sheep.

Chamling who declared the pass open said resumption of trade through the pass held great promises for people inhabiting the areas surrounding the border in both countries.

He said that reopening of the route was the result of his party, the Sikkim Democratic Front's, consistent efforts in that direction over the years.