Nepal Raises Objection To China-India Trade Via Lipulekh During PM Oli’s Meeting With President Xi Jinping | India News
New Delhi: During a dual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli conveyed his strong reservations about Nepal’s Chinese-Indian agreement to open a trade route through Lipulekh Pass.
The discussion took place at the Tianjin State Guest House, where PM Oli came to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025. Foreign Minister Amrit Bahadur Rai shared that the Prime Minister was against the agreement, emphasizing that Lipulekh Pass is an integral part of Egemen Nepal.
Pm Oli said during the meeting, “It is clear that all the lands in the east of the Mahakani River belong to Egemen Nepal according to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. Nepal is sure that China will support Nepal in this regard.
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PM Oli underlined Nepal’s position, “Nepal expresses his objection to his consensus on his territorial territory (Nepal), since it is clear that his soil is not allowed to be used against another country.” He also stated that the region belongs to Nepal and that the Nepal Government has recorded its strong objection in the same way.
In response, President Xi did not express any disagreement with Nepal’s attitude, and according to Foreign Minister RAI, the issue should be solved through the dialogue between Nepal and India.
Also read: Announced | Why Nepal Objects to India-China Trade with Lipulekh Pass
The two leaders also discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship and reached an agreement to activate the mechanisms aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the two countries and to strengthen friendly ties.
This visit points to the fourth official trip of PM Oli as the Prime Minister to China and its second visit in 2025.
In addition, leaders examined the progress of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the role of Nepal in socioeconomic development. PM Oli’s Economic and Development Consultant Yuba Raj Khatiwada said China’s positive stance on opening additional border points to facilitate trade.
China also expressed the desire to support Nepal in increasing quality and commercial agricultural production to increase exports. The Chinese side reiterated his commitment to helping the transformation of Nepal into a land -bound country.
Nepal’s protest on India-China border trade through lipulekh
In August of India and China, Nepal reopened an official protest after reopening the border trade through Lipulekh Pass. This move revived Nepal’s route that connects Uttarakhand to the Tibet in Himalayalar. Kathmandu argues that Lipulekh, the claim that the new Delhi rejected, has sovereignty over Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.
The official map of Nepal’s constitution placed Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani in his own region. In contrast, Kathmandu called on the new Delhi to stop the construction, expansion and trade activities in the region, while at the same time China said that the region belongs to Nepal.
“The Nepal government urged the Indian Government not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion or border trade in the region.
However, the new Delhi rejected Nepal’s objections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said that trade has been going on for decades through Lipulekh Pass.
MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said, border border trade between India and China started in 1954 and has been going on for decades… Such allegations are neither right nor evidence, ”he said.
Why does Nepal claim Lipulekh on his own?
Nepal’s claim is based on the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, which founded the Kali River as the western border with British India. Kathmandu argues that the river stems from Limpiyadhura, that is, Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura fell into the territory of Nepal.
India objected to it, claiming that the river began near Kalapani and thus placed the region under Indian control.
In 2020, Nepal changed its constitution to formalize its regional claim. The three areas have been included in the official map, and since then Nepal has objected to Indian infrastructure projects and Indian-China agreements on lipulekh.
India’s control rationale
India argues that since independence, it has been under the rule of regions. After the 1962 war with China as a proof of security needs, he states the existence of Indian troops in Kalapani.
The lipulekh route is vital for border trade with Kailash Mansarovar Hac and Tibet. India argues that maps, records and surveys approve the continuous governance of the region.
