KATHMANDU, JUN 21 -
Nepal-China boundary talks have been put off until further notice thanks to the ongoing political standoff at home. This has made the signing of the proposed fourth boundary protocol uncertain despite related preparations having almost been over.

The seventh round of expert-level boundary talks was supposed to begin in Kathmandu on Monday. Nepal and China have agreed to sign the fourth protocol of boundary maps by December.

“We have conveyed a message to the Chinese side that no meeting in this respect will take place given the political situation in the country,” a senior government official said. Heads of the survey department of the two neighbours were slated to lead the talks.

The third joint secretary-level meeting held in Kathmandu in the second week of April had agreed to hold the meeting of experts here in June in order to settle all typo errors.

Officials of both the countries have prepared 53 sheets of boundary map. The two countries have also agreed to recognise the snow and rock heights of Mt. Everest so as to momentarily address the differences over the height of the tallest peak.

“We’ll have to seek a fresh mandate after the formation of a new government, meaning further delay in holding the meeting and signing a new boundary protocol,” the official said.

Nepal and China have signed three boundary protocols. The first was signed on January 20, 1963, second on November 20, 1979

and the third on December 6, 1988.

Posted on: 2010-06-22 08:40

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