BEIJING, Feb 1:
China today fulfilled its long-standing promise to India to allow an additional route for Indian pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet through Sikkim.
The two sides exchanged notes on modalities for additional route at the bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
According to MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, the additional route would open for Indian pilgrims in June. The route through Nathu La Pass would facilitate comfortable travel for Indian pilgrims by buses.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had promised opening the new route to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his maiden visit to New Delhi in September last year.
The two sides had agreed to work closely to ensure smooth commencement of the pilgrimage through the new route.
The only route – Lipulekh Pass – was badly damaged in the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013.
The MEA arranges the ‘yatra’ for nearly 900 pilgrims every year in batches involving a 22-day arduous journey.
Mr Modi had made a strong pitch for the new route since it would allow elderly Indian people also to travel in buses quite comfortably in the Himalayan region.
Asked if Mr Modi would also perform the ‘yatra’ through the new route as promised by him, officials said the Prime Minister would be visiting China in May while the route would open in June. (UNI)
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