LHASA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Nathu La Pass in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region resumed operation for border trade on Saturday, local authorities said on Sunday.

The Nathu La Pass sits 4,545 meters above sea level and is wedged between Xizang's Yadong County in Xigaze Prefecture and India's Sikkim State. As a cross-border trade passage, the pass was temporarily closed in 2020. Before the closure, its total import and export volume topped 73 million yuan (about 10.8 million U.S. dollars) in 2019.

Yadong County is a pivotal gateway for China's trade with South Asian countries.

Gong Shijun, head of the county, said that the resumption of the Nathu La Pass opens up new prospects for reciprocal trade between border residents of the two sides.

Xizang expands its opening up at a higher level and plans to open 12 border trade sites this year in addition to its existing 14 traditional ones, local authorities said earlier this year at the annual session of the regional people's congress.