China wants Nathula's tourism potential tapped

China and India need to tap Nathula's potential for tourism promotion, a Chinese diplomat has said. Bu Jiamguo, minister counsellor at the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, made this point to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling when she led a four-member Chinese team to meet the latter in Gangtok on Tuesday.

"Both China and Sikkim should explore the possibility of tourism via Nathula," she said, adding that there was an urgent need for good infrasruture like hotels and warehouses on either side of the border for trade to flourish.

The delegation called on Chamling soon after its return from a study trip to Sherathang and Nathula in Sikkim and Renquinggang in the Tibet Autonomous Region across

the border.

Situated at a height of over 14,000 ft in east Sikkim, Nathula was reopened for border trade with China in July last year. Bu also told Chamling that the Chinese government was looking forward to an increase in the volume of trade through the Nathula pass in the spirit of friendship, cooperation and new understanding that is in the interest of both countries.