DUSHANBE, September 29, 2008, Asia-Plus — The Kulma Crossing on the Tajik-Chinese border in GBAO’s Murgab is closed today for a week till October 5, According to the Customs Service.
The source at the customs service said that such a decision was taken by the Chinese authorities in connection with celebrations to mark China’s National Day.
We will recall that this year, the Kulma Crossing works every day, except weekends and holidays, from May through November. An agreement on this subject was reached during long negotiations between Tajikistan and China at the beginning of this year and China’s National Council issued a relevant resolution on this subject in March.
The Tajik-China trade route, opened in 2004, runs between from Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan in southeastern Tajikistan, over a high-altitude plateau and then down into China, where it ends in the city of Kashgar, 700 kilometers away. Before 2007, because conditions are so tough at the Kulma border crossing – located on a mountain pass 4,400 meters high – the gateway stayed open only 15 days out of every month, while from November through April it was closed altogether.
In future, the sides intend to consider the possibility of the gateway’s working the whole year round. The issue will be discussed after construction of necessary infrastructure ensuring regular work of the border crossing during winter months as well.
