Tuesday, April 12 2005 12:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gangtok: The Sikkim Government today (Apr 12, 2005) hailed the Chinese acceptance of Sikkim as part of India saying it had removed a major irritant in the bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries and had strengthened hopes of an early resumption of border trade through the Nathula pass.

''Though we have been considering ourselves an integral part of India since the State's merger with the Indian union in 1975, the latest Chinese move has put behind a major irritant in its bilateral ties with India, the Chief Minister Pawna Kumar Chamling's advisor, P B Gooroong told sources.

''The two countries can move a step further in cementing bilateral ties by making arrangements for an early resumption of border trade through Nathula in Sikkim,'' he added.

Now that China had formalised its acceptance of Sikkim as part of India, the State Government in consultation with the concerned Ministries at the Centre, could seriously work on its plans to raise a firm infrastructure in the State to handle the huge volume of trade and business activities expected after the Nathula trade route reopens after a gap of about 40 years, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday (Apr 11, 2005) handed a map to the Indian authorities in New Delhi showing Sikkim within India's boundary.

Apart from trade, it is the tourism sector in Sikkim, which stands to benefit substantially from the reopening of the Nathula trade route through which the journey to Kailash and Mansarover in China occupied Tibet would become far less tedious and may lure hordes of pilgrimage tourists to the State, he said.