A China-Nepal border port at Jilung, a county in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has been expanded to boost bilateral economic and tourism development, local authorities announced on Monday.

Nepal has been Tibet's largest trade partner since 2006. According to data from Lhasa customs, bilateral trade accounted for 58.5 percent of Tibet's total import and export volume last year.

The Jilung border port, which started operations in 1978, used to be the largest port linking the two countries. Trade at the port will be expanded and tourists will be allowed to travel through the port, according to Dong Mingjun, vice chairman of the Tibet regional government.

The total volume of cross-border trade at the port reached 28.93 million yuan (4.7 million U.S. dollars) between January and October, with year-on-year growth of 660 percent.

Recent development of the port has brought opportunities for local residents of Jilung town.

"I started a business last year to buy biscuits and instant noodles from Nepal and sell them in Lhasa and Shigatse," said Basang, a villager. "I hope to expand my business in the next two or three years and open a shop in the town."

The bridge that links Jilung to Nepal's Rasuwa has already been opened to traffic, and Lhasa customs are working with the local government of Jilung to establish a cross-border economic cooperation zone based around the port. Endi

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