Kathmandu, Sept. 14 -- Nepal has sought Chinese assistance to rebuild the road linking Syaphrubesi with the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, the key trade route in the north, which was severely damaged by the August 26 floods.

China has responded positively to Nepal's proposal and indicated that it is willing to help, although no formal agreement has yet been signed, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has said.

The roughly 16-km Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road was being upgraded under a Rs6.5 billion Chinese-funded project when the August 26 floods swept away large sections, severely damaging the border crossing and cutting a major trade link between Nepal and China.

The project completion period was 39 months.

The government is now ...