On July 6, 2006, China and India held an inaugural ceremony at Nathu La Pass to mark the reopening of the border trade pass. Chairman of Tibet's regional government Qiangba Puncog and Sikkim's chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling delivered speeches respectively and jointly cut the ribbon for the reopening of the border pass. The two countries open two border markets--the Renqinggang market in Tibet Autonomous Region and Changgu mart in India's state of Sikkim. Representatives from related agencies of the two countries attended the opening ceremony.

The reopening of border trade through Nathu La Pass and two border markets is a concrete measure to implement the memorandum on expanding border trade signed by the two governments in 2003. It is also an important program of "China-India Friendship Year" in 2006.