Kathmandu, Nov. 4 -- The recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping was supposed to be one more indication of Nepal's attempt at breaking free of the constraints of geography and to look beyond the south to the neighbour to the north. One crucial agreement with China could help Nepal go a step closer to that goal, but two-and-a-half-years since its signing, the Agreement on Transit and Transportation with China has yet to come into effect.

This is largely due to the fact that the Protocol to the Agreement on Transit and Transportation-signed between the two countries in April-has not been duly satisfied by both parties. Before the agreement comes into effect, both countries are required to inform each other that their domestic la...