Himalayan pass reopens as ‘goodwill’ gesture in China-India thaw

China and India resumed cross-border trade through the Lipulekh Pass in the Himalayas last week in the latest sign of a cautious rapprochement between the two countries.

The reopening of the pass near the contested India-China-Nepal border after six years came shortly after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi.

It was described by analysts as a goodwill gesture from Beijing, but they warned that the long-standing border dispute and strategic rivalry would continue to weigh on the relationship between the Asian giants.

According to the Press Trust of India, the first batch of 26 Indian traders from Uttarakhand crossed into Tibet’s Taklakot market in Purang county, home to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in eastern Tibet’s Ngari prefecture, on June 26.

More journeys are planned during the seasonal window that runs through to September.

Wang Dehua, an India specialist at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies, said the reopening was “a step towards recovery and warming ties” rather than a strategic reset.

“The reopening can be seen as a pragmatic step by China in managing Tibet-related issues,” he said.