Largest China-Nepal Port to Reopen: Border residents grateful for the Zhangmu Port re-opening

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A port that has meant so much to two countries and thousands of people on both sides is about to reopen following a four year closure. The Zhangmu Port along the China-Nepal border is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. It closed in 2015 following a major earthquake. CGTN's Xu Xinchen tells us about the opportunities that lie just ahead for this region and its people.

Elected two years ago, Dibendra Shretha now chairs a village just five kilometers from the China-Nepal Border. 80% of the village economy used to rely on trade via the border port — the Zhangmu, or Khasa Port as Nepalese call it. But the 2015 Nepal earthquake caused mass destruction — forcing the port to shut. People fled.

DIBENDRA SHRETHA, CHAIRPERSON WARD NO.2, TATOPANI, NEPAL "After the earthquake, this area was all shut down. The doors were closed. Only one or two doors were open. All went to Kathmandu to live, or Sindhupalchok or where-else their families are."

The good news — people started to come back about six months ago after hearing that the port was going to reopen.

DIBENDRA SHRETHA, CHAIRPERSON WARD NO.2, TATOPANI, NEPAL "They are sure they can live here after the border reopens. They can make their businesses here, they can study here. They can do everything here."

Across the border, the 2015 earthquake also shattered lives in the Chinese town of Zhangmu. Residents were evacuated, yet, China's immigration police stayed behind — providing aid to Nepalese neighbors and safeguarding peace around the border. And it was not easy.

SHEN CHENGQIANG IMMIGRATION POLICE OFFICER IN ZHANGMU "The earthquake caused mudslides, flood and rocks rolled off from nearby mountains."

Badly-needed supplies simply could not reach them. For over four years, they stayed at the port in isolation preparing for the reopening.

Zhangmu Port was the largest trade hub for China and Nepal — accounting for 90% of bilateral trade. The reopening spread cheerful notes.

SHEN CHENGQIANG IMMIGRATION POLICE OFFICER IN ZHANGMU "The port is a bond of friendship between the two countries and an economic bridge for the two. The port re-opening can boost cultural exchange as well as trade."

While it could take some time for the local economy to see sizable benefits from the port reopening, Chinese immigration police officers along the border can rest assured without worrying about broken roads and collapsed bridges. Xu Xinchen, CGTN, Zhangmu Port on the China-Nepal Border.