Kathmandu, Oct. 29 -- Fourteen years after Nepal and China agreed to establish a mechanism for managing ports along their shared border, China has proposed a draft agreement to set up a bilateral Nepal-China Port Management Cooperation Committee. The proposed committee aims to strengthen border port management, facilitate trade, streamline customs clearance, and ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries.

In January 2012, Nepal and China agreed to establish the committee. However, the details of the proposed mechanism have yet to be worked out.

During a recent meeting with Industry Minister Deepak Kumar Shah, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming handed over the draft proposal. The ministry is conducting internal consult...