China is all set to resume suspended bus services between Lhasa and Kathmandu in Nepal, according to the online edition of China Economic Review.

The service that started on May 1, 2005 was suspended in 2006 after political fallout over issuance of visas to Tibet. However, it is not clear from when the service will resume.

“Indian strategists think one of the reasons for the resumption of the bus service by China is to show the Lhasa-Kathmandu route as the first legitimate and regular land approach to Tibet from outside China,” said the report.

China aims at bringing in tourists – European and Indians – into Tibet from the Nepal route. This will mean that China will increase “normalcy” in Tibet.

According to the report, the decision to restart the bus service was taken during a two-day meeting between officials of the Nepal Tourism Board and Tibet Tourism Administration some months ago.

Though a February-end deadline has been fixed, much will hinge upon the snows that block Himalayan passes leading up the Tibetan Plateau from Nepal, according to the report.