介绍:
Ba Wang, director general of the Bureau of Commerce in Ya Dong, says that the reopening of the Nathu La pass has profound impacts on expanding the cross-border trade between China and India. It&`&s also very beneficial to the livelihood of people in both nations.
(Act1, Ba Wang, male, Chinese)
"There are very few people living around the border area right after the reopening of the Nathu La pass in 2006. The total trade volume was 1.5 million at that time, and this number has steadily increased each year, reaching more than a hundred million in 2014. People who live around the border have made large amounts of money, so both nations are willing to do the business."
China and India have each made it clear what commodities are tradable on the market at the Nathu La pass. 29 types of commodities, including alcohol and tea, can be sold by the Indian side, while China can sell 15 types of commodities like horses and goats.
Nima Don Ju, from Ya Dong County, was taking a delivery of goods imported from India on the trade market while doing this interview. He has been doing this kind of business for ten years. Indian snacks, blankets and cosmetics are his main imports and will later be sold at stores in Ya Dong. Before the opening of Nathu La trade market, Nima Don Ju, like all the other people living in Ya Dong, logged for a living. Thanks to the business opportunities brought by the border trade, people are incredibly satisfied that the once-harsh living conditions are being improved.
(Act 2, Nima Don Ju, male, Chinese)
"Like many other people living in Ya Dong, we used to log for a living. But logging is no longer allowed, so we resort to doing trade. Our livelihood has been improved through doing this business."
Most Indian merchants in the Nathu La market can at least speak four languages, namely English, Nepalese, Hindi, and Tibetan, so native people can communicate with them very smoothly. Pelemalhamo and her daughter from Sikkim have been doing business here since the reopening of the trade market in 2006. They sold Indian tea, cookies and chocolate at the very beginning, while as their business grows, almost all the tradable Indian commodities can be found in her store. With an increasing number of tourists and pilgrims coming to Ya Dong, Pelemalhamo&`&s business is prospering, and she thinks her business can&`&t progress further without support from the Chinese government.
(Act 3, Pelemalhamo, Indian)
"Chinese government has provided us with a lot of help whenever we have trouble, like giving us umbrella when it rains."
Liao Xiaobing, an army officer of the 6th border regiment, said the cross-border trade flourishes. The trade volume and the number of entry-exit people has increased by around 60 or 70 percent since this May compared to the same period last year. It can be seen clearly that trucks coming from India are filled with goods while return empty after a whole day of selling. Chinese situation is just the opposite, with empty trucks leaving while fully loaded with Indian goods at the end of a day. It can be inferred that China&`&s export volumes are much fewer than its import volumes in Nathu La trade market, while Mr. Liao doesn&`&t consider it as a negative trend.
(Act 4, Liao Xiaobing, Chinese)
"Exchanges between China and India are further strengthened through the opening of the Nathu La pass, moving the Sino-Indian relations forward. This would contribute a lot to maintaining the fundamental policies of both nations."
Mr. Liao has served the army around the border area for 10 years. Nathu La border trade can never prosper without devoted soldiers like him.
(Act 5, Liao Xiaobing, Chinese)
"I&`&ve come here in this military uniform. Actually I had to be thoroughly committed to do frontier inspection work, especially around this area, which is very close to India. The work sets very high standards for us in many aspects, so we can learn a lot from our experience and feel much fulfilled."
Border trade at Nathu La is booming. It&`&s estimated that the number of trucks crossing this part of border can reach 100 or 200 a day, which makes the infrastructures no longer compatible with increasing cross-border traffic flow. To solve this problem, all merchants are divided into 3 groups. Only one group can do business on a day, and three groups will do it in turn. Chinese government has been planning to expand the border trade market in recent years. Ba Wang, director general of the Bureau of Commerce in Ya Dong, says
(Act 6, Ba Wang, Chinese)
"This is only a temporary border trade market. We are planning to move it to Ren Qinggang which is big enough to have large markets built. There are so many vehicles from India that the limited parking space is no longer applicable."
Before the opening of the Nathu La pass, it took around 10 days for merchants from Southwest China to transport their goods to Southeast Asia, and the goods were then transported to Northeast India through waterways, amounting to a distance of 6000 kilometers in total. More than 90 percent of Sino-Indian trade traversed this route back then.
While now, with the Nathu La pass, the travel distance of commodities exported from Lhasa to ports along the coast of India has shortened to only 1200 kilometers, which is hugely advantageous to the opening-up of the West China. Goods can be delivered in a day, which not only decreases the cost but also strengthens cooperation between two nations. In terms of future development of Ya Dong, Mr. Liao is very optimistic.
(Act 7, Liao Xiaobing, Chinese)
"I have two wishes, one is to do my own work well, and the other is for the pass at Ya Dong. It&`&s the only a cross-border route for now, but I hope it can achieve further progress and develop into a largest roadway pass connecting China and India. If that truly happens, I would feel very proud when I come back to the place where I&`&ve served for so many years."
Standing at an offshoot of the historic Silk Road, Nathula regains its momentum as a vital border trade pass. It brings China and India a route of prosperity, a route of hope.
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