China sends supplies to Nepal via reopened border trade point

China today sent relief supplies to Nepal through its newly-reopened border point in Tibet to ease pressure on the new Nepalese government grappling with a fuel crisis due to a Madhesi-led blockade of key trade routes with India.
"The China-Nepal Jilong border crossing that was damaged during the Nepal earthquake has been reopened," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.
"As far as I know, today the Chinese side through this border has transferred supply of aid goods and materials," she said without specifying the amount of supplies delivered.
Hua said China will continue to help in accordance with Nepal's request.

The border crossing at Jilong, a county in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, was badly damaged in the massive earthquake in April.
The badly-damaged road leading to the port at Jilong reopened on Tuesday after months of repair, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

The port is about 130 kilometres from Kathmandu, and used to be the largest border port linking the two countries.
Nepal, a land-locked country is facing dwindling supplies of essential commodities from India due to the agitation launched by Madhesis -- the Indian-origin inhabitants of the southern plains -- over the newly-promulgated Constitution.
The Madhesis demand more rights and representation in the Constitution and have blocked key trade points on the India-Nepal border, virtually cutting-off supplies.

Faced with an acute fuel crisis, Nepalese politicians had said they would to turn to China to meet their requirement ahead of the Hindu festive season.