Nepal-China border meet begins Kathmandu, December 25: China has requested Nepal to consider the survey and measurement done by the Chinese team in 2005, which has put the height of Mt Everest at 8844.43 meters. The issue is being discussed in a three-day bilateral meeting that kicked off today in Kathmandu. “China has concluded a new survey and measurement in 2005 (which put the height of Mt Everest at 8844.43m from the Chinese side). We think the new data is usable because we used most advanced survey mapping technology objectively with reference of Global Positioning System. We, of course, understand the attitude of Nepal in this issue,” said the Chinese delegation leader, Li Qingyuan. This is the fourth session of the committee, which would “review among others, the outcome of the fieldwork of joint inspection carried out jointly by Nepal and China during April and September 2006.” The meeting will discuss on a stone, which had been considered as “57th boundry marker” found in Dolkha lately by Nepal-China joint inspection team, according to Qingyuan. If the “57th boundry marker” is considered, Nepal will loose some land to China. Stating the “57th boundery marker” as “encouraging development” Qingyuan said: “We have to act according to the treaty and boundry protocal to find a proper solution to this.” The Chinese team has 12 members and the Nepali side is led by Joint Secretary Pradip Kumar Khatiwada of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nepali team also has senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Land Reforms and Management, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Talking to media persons prior to the meeting, Khatiwada said that there was no disputable issue as such with China, and the meeting is focused on border pillars and their reconstruction. The Joint Committee on Third Joint Inspection of Nepal-China boundary has already concluded its First, Second and the Third Sessions in Beijing, Kathmandu and Beijing earlier. The first and second joint inspections of Nepal-China boundary were conducted in 1979 and 1988.