Bus services between Lhasa and Kathmandu were set to resume in the next few days. Nepal and China signed a formal agreement to promote tourism by restarting the service.
Indian strategists think one of the reasons for the resumption of the bus service by China is to show the Lhasa-Kathmandu route as the first legitimate and regular land approach to Tibet from outside China.
China aims at bringing in tourists – European and Indians – into Tibet from the Nepal route. This will mean that China will increase “normalcy” in Tibet.
The Tribune reports the decision to restart the bus service was taken during a two-day meeting between officials of the Nepal Tourism Board and Tibet Tourism Administration some months ago. Though a February-end deadline has been fixed, much will hinge upon the snows that block Himalayan passes leading up the Tibetan Plateau from Nepal.
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