GANDAKI, June 23: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, has said that the relation between Nepal and China is historical.

Inaugurating the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival here today, he opined that the event has added a new brick in the bilateral relations. The Festival has been organized as a joint initiative of the Embassy of China in Nepal, the Pokhara Metropolitan City and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said the Nepal-China ties which are age-old are cordial so far and expressed the confidence that this friendship festival organized in the tourist city of Pokhara would further deepen the cultural and people-level relations between the two countries.

Stating that the Festival has made a new beginning to make the ties with China stronger, he urged the Chinese people to visit Nepal. "I want to invite the respected Chinese nationals to come for a visit to Nepal. We are eager to welcome and honor you in Nepal. Please, come for a visit," he said.

On the occasion, the minister also reiterated that Nepal is committed to the 'one China' policy. According to him, the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival is held in a grand manner in Pokhara, an established trade and transit point between China and India in historical times.

Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song, stated that Nepal and China have enjoyed economic, social and cultural ties for a long time and expressed his belief that the Festival will further consolidate the bilateral ties at the people's level as well.

Pokhara Metropolitan City mayor Dhanraj Acharya said they see the organization of the Dragon Boat Race Festival in Pokhara as a significant beginning and expressed conviction the arrival of Chinese tourists to Pokhara will increase in the coming days, spurred by this festival. He also said that the Festival will be continued in the coming days as well.

NTB Chief Executive Officer Dhananjaya Regmi said that the festival will support tourism not only in Pokhara but also in the whole of Nepal.

Pokhara Tourism Council President Pom Narayan Shrestha said this type of program which is organized for the first time in Nepal will add a new dimension to tourism as a whole and will help make Pokhara's tourism activities dynamic.

He also said that the Festival organized for the first time in South Asia will help promote Nepal across the world and bring more and more Chinese tourists to Nepal in the future.

The boat race and the Festival are being held for two days- today and tomorrow- with the goal of deepening the cultural and people-to-people relations between Nepal and China and promoting tourism.

(RSS)

 
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