Mumbai:
Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling cut the
ribbon to reopen the famous Nathu La pass to Indian and
Chinese traders at a ceremonial function on Thursday.
Tibet Autonomous Region chairman Champa Phuntsok attended
the function, held at the windy 14,500 feet high location
in the Himalayas.
With
this, India and China have taken another step in strengthening
trade and cultural ties between peoples of the two countries.
Part
of the ancient Himalayan ''Silk Route'', the Nathu La pass
has been closed for bilateral trade for at least 44 years
after it was closed in 1962 after the Sino-India war.
Drums
rolled as Chamling and Phuntsok shook hands before cutting
the ribbon and soldiers and traders from both sides cheered
and clapped.
"The
people of China and India were knit together with a thousand
bonds since the dawn of history," Chamling said quoting
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
He
expressed hope that the reopening of the Himalayan pass
increase the economic and cultural interaction between
two countries.
The
reopening of the border should be viewed as a symbol of
friendship
between India and China, Phuntsok said and hoped that
India and China would be able to expand other interactive
activities besides trade.
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