Shipki-La Indo-Tibetan Trade Route Set to Reopen After Himachal Pradesh Government’s Efforts

The Himachal Pradesh government’s consistent efforts to re-establish trade with China through Shipki-La, located in Kinnaur, have shown promising results, according to recent reports. The Chinese government has, in principle, agreed to the proposal during the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India. This breakthrough stems from the personal intervention of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who advocated for the revival of the historic Indo-Tibetan trade route. The Union government subsequently took up the matter with China, leading to a consensus to restart the trade. The state government will now coordinate with the Union Commerce Ministry to finalize the necessary procedures. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has confirmed that the Indian government has initiated discussions with China regarding the resumption of border trade through all three designated points: Shipki-La (Himachal Pradesh), Lipulekh (Uttarakhand), and Nathu La (Sikkim), which were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Minister had emphasized the vital role Shipki-La played in trans-Himalayan economic and cultural exchanges, once an offshoot of the ancient Silk Route. Furthermore, the state government has received a positive response concerning the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) through Shipki-La. The Shipki-La route, which connects via Gartok towards Darchen and Mansarovar, is comparatively shorter on the Tibetan side, and Himachal Pradesh already possesses road connectivity up to Shipki-La. The External Affairs Minister has also indicated that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has recommenced through Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass, and that discussions are ongoing with China to potentially include Shipki-La as an additional route. The state government anticipates that these developments will not only revive traditional border trade but also generate new opportunities for tourism, cultural exchange, and economic advancement within Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister has expressed appreciation to the Union government for giving priority to these crucial state concerns in bilateral talks with China.