Thursday, July 6 2006 12:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nathula (Sikkim): Resumption of trade through the famed Nathula pass which reopened after 44 years today (July 6, 2006) , augured well for the collective well-being of both India and China, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said.

Chamling, who inaugurated the opening of the pass by the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon to the beat of drums and patriotic tunes played over the public address system, said,

"The people of China and India were knit together with a thousand bonds since the dawn of history," quoting Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

He expressed hope that the reopening of the Himalayan pass would increase the economic and cultural interaction between the two countries.

He thanked the Union government, especially the ministries of External Affairs, Commerce, Home Affairs, Defence and Finance for playing a vital role in making the reopening of Nathula a reality and praised the army for their efforts in the last two years in this direction.

Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Champa Phuntsok, in his address said the opening of the pass heralded good neighbourly relations between India and China.

He hoped that India and China would be able to expand other interactive activities besides trade.

Chinese Ambasador to India Sun Yuxi, earlier told newsmen that the facilities for trade were limited at the moment as it was starting on a small scale, but as infrastructure expanded in years to come, the trade volume would go up substantially.

"We can hope that border trade will gradually go full scale," he said.