GOLD PRICE RECOVERY CONTINUED Kathmandu, 25 April: Gold price continued to recover Thutsday. The precious metal was traded for Rs.52,000 per tola after gaining Rs 500 per tola compared to the previous day. Gold gained in the local bullion market after the yellow gained in the international market. Most jewelry shops in New Road remained closed for the third consecutive day Thursday with jewelers opposing monitoring of establishments following widespread malpractices in trading. Hewelers have been accused for cheating customers. Nnnn TALKS WITH CHINA TO REDUCE TRADE DEFICIT Kathmandu, 25 April: Nepal-China trade talks have been held here today between the officials of both the countries on how to reduce the trade deficit with China, RSS reports.. In the join secretary level talks, Nepal drew the attention of the Chinese side on the problems faced by Nepalese entrepreneurs in the border area, risk for lack of banking facilities in Tatopani entry point, among others. Nepal requested the Chinese officials to provide facility of transportation in trucks by ending the arrangement to carry loads to Khasa of Tibet by porters after crossing the Tatopani customs. At the talks held at the Ministry of Commerce, the 11-member Chinese team led by Director General of the Department of Commerce of China´s autonomous region of Tibet Bianba assured to present the problems raised by Nepali officials before the central and regional government of China. Bianba suggested that efforts should be made from Nepal to remove the barrier in trade expansion like certificate of origin of Nepali goods. Although China has given zero tariff facility for 8,787 items, no trade deficit has come down. Nepal has been exporting 366 Nepali products including noodles and agro products. Nepalese team is led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Jivraj Koirala and officers of Customs and Commerce Departments, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministry are participating. The Chinese team was here to invite Nepali businessmen and government officials to the forthcoming Nepal-China economic and trade fair to be held in the second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse. Earlier, the Chinese team had met with Commerce Secretary Lalmani Joshi and informed that China will allow to take goods worth 1.6 million Yuan to the trade fair raising from the past arrangement of 800,000 Yuan. On the occasion, Secretary Joshi said he expected Chinese cooperation to reduce trade deficit and expansion of bilateral trade. nnnn ALLIANCE OF MADESH PARTIES POSSIBLE SAYS MAHANTA THAKUR Kathmandu, 25 April: Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Mahantha Thakur, has said that there would be an alliance among Madhes-based political parties in the next Constituent Assembly (CA) election, RSS reports from Parsa.. At a news conference organised by the Madhesi Journalists´ Society, Parsa, here today, Thakur said discussion is underway among Madhes-based parties for the same. He said discussion especially with MJF-Nepal, MJF-Loktantrik and Federal Sadbhawana Party and Coordinator of the Tarai Madhes Campaign, JP Gupta, is underway for unity. Thakur further said that alliance with UCPN-Maoist would not be continued if there was alliance among the Madhes-based parties. He stressed that all should involve in making the CA election a success at any expense as there was no alternative to the election in the country. On the occasion, Thakur also urged Chairman of the CPN-Maoist, Mohan Baidya, to support to make the election a success by joining the high-level political mechanism. Stating that they are in favour of federalism and inclusion, he said federalism and inclusion will be their main agenda in the election. Thakur urged not to suspect on holding the election within mid- December by the government as the main task of the incumbent government was to hold the CA election. nnnn