Korala Border Crossing Becomes Key Trade Route Amidst Northern Border Closures

Mustang. Three years ago, the Nepal-China northern Korala border crossing was limited only to the Upper Mustang's Lomathang and Loghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities. Before the Covid pandemic, the Korala border gate used to open only for a limited time in June and September every year on the Tibetan plateau of China's Xinjiang region. The Chinese side used to run a short-term cross-border trade fair on the Tibetan land of Korala for citizens of Nepal-China border areas to shop for daily necessities. Due to Covid, China unilaterally closed the Korala border crossing completely for four consecutive years.

The Nepal-China northern Korala border crossing, which had been closed for four years due to Covid, was opened for the citizens of the two rural municipalities of Upper Mustang for twelve months on November 13, 2080 (Bikram Sambat), immediately after the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to China. The reopening of the Korala border crossing, which had been closed for a long time, for twelve months a year brought joy to the citizens of the border areas.