India and China are moving ahead with their agreement to resume border trade through three designated Himalayan trading points as part of efforts to improve bilateral ties…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and China are moving forward with their previously agreed plan to resume border trade through the designated trading points of Lipulekh, Shipki La and Nathu La Pass, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Addressing the bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the decision to reopen the trading routes had already been taken during bilateral discussions in August 2025 and was now being implemented.
“I would like to draw your attention to the press release that was issued on, if I’m not wrong, on August 19, 2025. In that press release, you would have seen that both sides had agreed that border trade through three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La Pass would be resumed. So, you know, it is a decision which was taken at that time, and we had informed you as and when these discussions took place. And now those things are being taken forward,” Jaiswal said.
The agreement was reached during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi in August 2025, when he met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for a fresh round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the boundary question. During the visit, Wang also held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the MEA, Jaishankar and Wang agreed during those discussions to reopen border trade through the three designated trading points of Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass, marking a step towards restoring economic exchanges across the frontier.
The announcement comes as both countries continue high-level diplomatic engagement aimed at stabilising bilateral ties following years of tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
On Monday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is visiting Beijing, met China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying to review bilateral relations and discuss ways to deepen cooperation.
“Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri met H.E. Ms Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. They reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations. They discussed means of advancing the vision of the two leaders that India and China are partners and development opportunities for each other, including through mutually beneficial outcomes across trade and economic ties, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas,” the Embassy of India in China said in a post on X.
The latest meeting follows talks between Jaishankar and Wang on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings in Manila last week, where the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations, border stability and regional developments.
During those discussions, Jaishankar reiterated that lasting peace along the border remained essential for the normalisation of ties between the two neighbours.
“Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the prerequisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that important objective. This will continue to need our constant attention. Relevant mechanisms in this domain must be given full support and strong encouragement,” he said.
In June, Wang Yi also visited New Delhi to attend the BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security meeting, during which he called on Prime Minister Modi, reflecting continued diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
