On Expanding Border Trade

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the two sides), 

With a view to promoting the development of friendly relations between the two countries and two people’s, 

Pursuant to the Memorandum between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Resumption of Border Trade signed on 13 December 1991, and Protocol on Entry and Exit Procedures for Border Trade signed on 1 July 1992, 

Desirous of opening another pass on the India-China border and setting up an additional point on each side for border trade, 

Have agreed as follows:

Article I
The Indian side agrees to designate Changgu of Sikkim state as the venue for border trade market; the Chinese side agrees to designate Renqinggang of the Tibet Autonomous Region as the venue for border trade market. 

Article II 
The two sides agree to use Nathula as the pass for entry and exit of persons, means of transport and commodities engaged in border trade. Each side shall establish checkpoints at appropriate locations to monitor and manage their entry and exit through the Nathula Pass. 

Article III
All the provisions of the Memorandum on the Resumption of Border Trade signed between the two Governments on 13 December 1991 and the Protocol on Entry and Exit Procedures for Border Trade signed between the two Governments on 1 July 1992 under the Memorandum shall also be applicable to the border trade through the Nathula Pass.

Article IV 
This Memorandum may be amended or supplemented by agreement in writing between the two sides. 

Article V 

This Memorandum shall come into force as from the date of its signature and shall be valid during the validity of the Memorandum on Resumption of Border Trade signed between the two Governments in New Delhi on 13 December 1991. 

Done in Beijing on 23 June 2003 in two originals each in the Hindi, Chinese and English languages, the three texts being equally authentic.

For the Governmentof the Republic of India 

For the Government of the People’s Republic of China