Cross-border passenger traffic resumed at major China-Nepal land port

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 1, 2023 shows Chinese and Nepalese passengers walking across the China-Nepal Friendship Bridge at Zham port in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Jian)

LHASA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Zham port in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, a major land port between China and Nepal, resumed two-way passenger traffic on Friday after being closed for eight years.↳

According to local authorities, 752 people passed through the border during the first day of the resumption. Xinhua reporters saw long queues at the exit and entry reception hall at about 11 a.m.↳

The Zham port in the city of Xigaze was a major gateway between China and Nepal for political, economic and cultural exchanges before 2015, when a mega-earthquake hit Nepal, destroying roads, bridges and facilities at the port, and forcing it to stop service.↳

Two-way cargo trade was resumed at the port on May 1 this year. As of Wednesday, about 194,000 tonnes of goods with a value of 3.52 billion yuan (about 490 million U.S. dollars) have been handled through Zham.  ■↳