China Agrees to Reopen Shipki-La Trade Route Following Himachal Pradesh’s Intervention

Significant progress has been made in the efforts to reopen the Indo-Tibetan trade route at Shipki-La, with the Chinese government showing willingness to cooperate. This follows the Himachal Pradesh government’s persistent attempts to restore trade relations through this key border crossing in Kinnaur. During the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India, an agreement was reached in principle to the proposal. This development is a direct result of the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s intervention, who had urged the Union government to revive the historic trade route. The Union government subsequently engaged with China, and a consensus to restart trade emerged. The state government will now collaborate with the Union Commerce Ministry to finalize the required formalities. The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has informed the state government that India has initiated discussions with China to resume border trade across Shipki-La (Himachal Pradesh), Lipulekh (Uttarakhand), and Nathu La (Sikkim). These routes had been closed since 2020 due to the pandemic. The Chief Minister underscored the importance of Shipki-La, which was a part of the Silk Route, and its significance in the Indo-China bilateral agreement of 1994, highlighting its role in trans-Himalayan economic and cultural exchanges. Moreover, the state government has received encouraging news regarding the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) through Shipki-La. The Chief Minister pointed out that the Shipki-La route is shorter on the Tibetan side, and Himachal Pradesh already offers road connectivity up to the border. The External Affairs Minister also noted the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass, and that adding Shipki-La is under discussion. The Himachal Pradesh government is hopeful that this will boost trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and overall economic growth within the state, and has commended the Union government for its focus on this matter during talks with China.