As Nepal and China are celebrating golden jubilee of establishment of their diplomatic relations, the two nations finally agreed to operate the straight bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa from beginning of May.

Mukunda Raj Satyal, executive chief of Sajha Yatayat, told Xinhua Friday that more than 200 people plan to enjoy the first operation of bus service between Nepal's capital Kathmandu and Lhasa of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, which will start from May 1.

"Under the banner of Nepal's state-run transport company Sajha Yatayat, Gorkha Travels Company Limited of Lhasa will ply buses from Nepal's side, and most of the passengers who are eager to go to Lhasa by bus are Nepalese citizens," said Satyal.

Four decades ago when Nepal and China signed an agreement to build Kathmandu-Lhasa highway, only a few Nepalese believed that it could help link Nepal to the outside world through its northern rugged mountain border, but now the dream is coming to be true, Satyal added.

According to Satyal, the transport will charge US$70 per passenger for a journey covering more than 955 kilometers including 114 kilometers in Nepalese territory, and it will take 2-3 days to reach the destination.

"The bus will depart from Kathmandu, pass Zhangmu port and Sigatse city before going to Lhasa," said Satyal.

Satyal noted the opening of the regular bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa is just a beginning. As Chinese government is planning to link Lhasa with the rest of China in the near future, Kathmandu-Lhasa road will be very significant for the Nepal's side.

Currently, Lhasa is linked by direct air flights from Kathmandu. Because of weather pattern, the flight is stopped during the winter season.

Straight bus service will be a historic event and opens a new avenue between the two neighboring countries, Nepal and China, Satyal said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2005)