The relentless efforts of the Himachal Pradesh government have resulted in a positive outcome, with the Indo-Tibetan trade route at Shipki-La poised to reopen. The Chinese government has agreed to the proposal, a decision made during the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India. This advancement is attributed to the direct involvement of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who requested the Union government to revive this historic trade route. The Union government then engaged China, leading to an agreement to restart trade. The state government will now forward the matter to the Union Commerce Ministry for completing the necessary formalities. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has informed the state government that the Indian government has begun discussions with China to reopen border trade through Shipki-La (Himachal Pradesh), Lipulekh (Uttarakhand), and Nathu La (Sikkim), which were closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The Chief Minister emphasized the significance of Shipki-La, once part of the Silk Route, and its formal recognition under the 1994 Indo-China bilateral agreement, and its importance for trans-Himalayan economic and cultural exchanges. Moreover, the state government has received positive feedback concerning the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) via Shipki-La. The Chief Minister highlighted the shorter route via Shipki-La on the Tibetan side and the existing road connectivity within Himachal Pradesh up to the border, making the development of base camps and supporting infrastructure for the Yatra feasible. The External Affairs Minister indicated that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has already resumed via Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass, and discussions are underway to incorporate Shipki-La as a supplementary route. The state government is optimistic that these endeavors will invigorate border trade and create new avenues for tourism, cultural exchange, and economic development in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister has expressed gratitude to the Union government for its focus on these key state concerns in bilateral dialogues with China.
