Rasuwagadhi-Kerung check point to be reopened in full swing from Monday

February 28, Kathmandu: The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung checkpoint in Rasuwa district, one of the major trade points with China, will be reopened in a full-fledged way from Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The checkpoint had remained closed since the Chinese Spring Festival and subsequent Lhosar festival in Nepal, Spokesperson at MoFA Sewa Lamsal told the National News Agency (RSS). According to her, the Chinese side has already agreed to resume the trade point that has remained closed since February 11 this year. The resumption may differ by a day or two owing to technical reason, added Lamsal.

Rasuwa district has been Covid-19 free and all the staffers at the Customs Office, Rasuwagadhi including 35 containers drivers, 15 labourers and a team of security personnel have already been vaccinated, shared Custom Office, Rasuwagadhi Chief Ramprasad Regmi.

The Nepali side had a hard time convincing the Chinese side that there were no health risks on the Nepal side due to coronavirus infection, said Regmi over the telephone.

The checkpoint fetches over Rs 20 million of revenue on a daily basis on a regular day. It was completely shut down from February 10, 2020, to July 11 the same year following the outbreak of coronavirus infection. The checkpoint was open for one-way trade traffic thereafter and five containers were allowed to enter Nepal side on a daily basis, according to Regmi.