At 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nepali businessman Dundrup Tsering waited at Lektse Port in Xigaze, southwest China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, carrying two large bags. “I’ve been doing business here since the port opened in November 2023, and my family’s living conditions have significantly improved,” Tsering said. In the past, traders sold goods in temporary tents at border trade points, where their products were often damaged by rain or snow and access to basic facilities like toilets was limited. The opening of the new port and the establishment of a modern trade area have largely resolved these issues.
The newly opened and reactivated ports along the China-Nepal border have not only boosted employment but also accelerated cross-border regional trade. Jiang Zhengguang, head of a machinery company near the Gyirong Port, said they had developed a new generation of electric vehicles suited to Nepal’s mountainous roads and high load demands. “Nepali customers say our products are high-quality and high-performing. We expect to export over 2,000 units this year,” he noted. With the reopening of the Zham, Gyirong, and Burang ports in 2023, vehicles can now reach Nepal from Chinese manufacturing centers within 10 days. Between January and May 2025, Xizang’s trade volume with Nepal reached 1.79 billion yuan (about 249 million USD), marking a 14% year-on-year increase. Lhasa Customs is supporting trade with measures such as 24-hour advance declarations and personalized guidance services.