The Lipulekh Pass – a key route for traders and pilgrims – has been closed for six years as a result of long-standing border tensions
4-MIN READ4-MINShi JiangtaoPublished: 4:00pm, 1 Jul 2026China 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.
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.
