|
India and China to reopen direct trade links
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-12 06:51
NATHU LA PASS, India - The world's two most populous countries India and
China are working to set up their first direct trade link since a 1962 border
war by reopening a section of the famed Silk Road, Indian officials said.
 |
| The world's two most populous countries India and China are working
to set up their first direct trade link since 1962 by reopening
a section of the famed Silk Road. [AFP/file] | The
point of contact is the 15,000-feet (4,545 metre) Nathu La pass on the border
between India's Sikkim and China's Tibet where hundreds of Indian workers are
repairing roads and building customs facilities, Sikkim government spokesman
B.B. Gurung told AFP on Sunday.
"As per plans, border trading is to begin from October 2 with the reopening
of the traditional Silk Road," Gurung said. "Infrastructure development and
construction of roads leading to Nathu La is going on at a brisk pace and
everything should be complete before the deadline."
The trading post, 52 kilometres (33 miles) east of the Sikkim capital
Gangtok, is the clearest sign yet of rapproachment between the two countries
which still dispute much of their 4,000-kilometre (2,400-mile) border that
stretches from Kashmir in the west to India's far-eastern state of Arunachal
Pradesh.
Nathu La was a major trading point between the two countries before the 1962
war. It was also one of the main arteries of the Silk Road which historically
linked China via Central Asia to Europe.
|
 | | | Hu arrives in Mexico for state visit | | |  | | | US Pacific Command Commander in Zhanjiang | | |  | | | President Hu in Canada for visit | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
