Imports of plant-based medicinal materials from Nepal to the Xizang autonomous region surged over 189 percent year-on-year to 27.5 metric tons in the first quarter of 2026, according to Lhasa Customs.

The sharp increase underscores the growing role of traditional medicine in deepening economic and cultural ties between Nepal and Xizang.

The Tibetan medicine industry has increasingly relied on imports of high-value herbal materials from Nepal, including dendrobium and polygonatum. The ingredients are widely used in traditional medicine and have become an important part of bilateral trade cooperation.

In recent years, Lhasa Customs has introduced a series of measures to facilitate the import of medicinal materials. Customs officials have carried out surveys of Nepalese medicinal plants and established a database covering imported herbal products.

As a result, the number of Nepalese medicinal plant varieties approved for import has nearly doubled from 16 in 2023 to 31 in 2026, while the number of registered overseas producers and processors increased from four to 10.

Guo Xiong, head of Lhasa Customs' Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine Office, emphasized the focus on safety and quality.

"By conducting stringent inspections and preventing invasive pests, we aim to ensure efficient clearance and maintain high standards," he said.

The flourishing integration of Tibetan medicinal practices and Nepali herbal resources marks a milestone in traditional medicine and advances economic partnerships along the Himalayan corridor.