Over the past five years, the total value of China's import and export with Nepal has surpassed 55 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 11.7 percent, official date showed on Friday.
As an important partner of China in building the Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia, Nepal's trade relations with China is growingly closer over the past several years.
The two countries saw a new historical phase in their bilateral relations following the elevation of their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2019.
In the first 10 months of this year, the total value of China's trade with Nepal reached 11.218 billion yuan (about 1.54 billion U.S. dollars). Among them, the Xizang Autonomous Region's export to Nepal of the "new trio," namely electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products, amounted to 225 million yuan (about 31 million U.S. dollars), showing a significant year-on-year growth.
This year, China and Nepal have continued to strengthen port construction and improve customs clearance facilitation. The four China-Nepal land ports have been operating smoothly and in an orderly manner, promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as personnel exchanges.
In the first 10 months of this year, the cargo volume at the four China-Nepal land ports came to 180,000 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 51 percent.
"In the first 10 months of this year, trade value between Xizang and Nepal reached 3.14 billion yuan (about 432 million U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 46.4 percent, accounting for 28 percent of the total China-Nepal trade value during the same period. The high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has gradually highlighted Xizang's geographic advantage as a gateway to South Asia," said Qiong Da, head of First Comprehensive Business Division of the Lhasa Customs.
China's foreign trade with Nepal surpassed 55 bln yuan over past 5 years
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
