China-Nepal cultural exchanges and cooperation flourish
2024-08-26
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The terminal building of Nepal's Pokhara International Airport. Photo by our reporter Bai Yuanqi
Chinese tourists are boating on Phewa Lake in Nepal. Photo by our reporter Bai Yuanqi
China and Nepal are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. In recent years, the traditional friendship and friendly cooperation between China and Nepal have continued to develop, and the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education, culture and tourism have flourished. China has successfully held 8 "China Festivals" and 8 "China Education Exhibitions" in Nepal. China has been the second largest source of tourists to Nepal for many years... The cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have continued to deepen, further tightening the emotional ties between the two peoples and promoting people-to-people exchanges.
Educational cooperation continues to deepen
The downtown area of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is full of shops, and ancient buildings and modern houses complement each other. The reporter walked along the winding alleys and came to a blue-gray teaching building full of South Asian style. The fifth floor of this building is the Confucius Institute of Kathmandu University. This is the first Confucius Institute in Nepal, jointly established in 2007 by Hebei University of Economics and Business and Kathmandu University, a famous university in Nepal.
"We currently have more than 5,000 registered students," Li Shuangcheng, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University, told reporters. In order to meet the needs of more and more Nepalese people to learn Chinese, the institute has continuously expanded its teaching network and has opened 31 teaching sites across the country, including four Confucius classrooms for primary and secondary school students, and six adult social classes in Kathmandu, while radiating to other cities.
Walking into the college's Chinese elementary classroom, the reporter saw Chinese-Nepalese bilingual vocabulary cards, famous quotes, etc. carefully arranged on the wall. "In order to increase students' interest and participation in learning Chinese, we regularly organize various activities after class, such as Chinese character chain, idiom story competition, calligraphy competition, etc." said Zhang Hongwei, a teacher at the college.
In addition to the compulsory and elective Chinese courses offered year-round for primary and secondary schools and universities, the Confucius Institute has specially added Chinese classes for adults and customized Chinese courses for officials from Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, General Administration of Customs, etc. The Confucius Institute also cooperates with Chinese companies to provide Chinese training services for local employees.
In 2023, the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University recommended 26 students to apply for Confucius Institute scholarships for one semester, one academic year and two academic years from the China Language Exchange and Cooperation Center. Former Nepali Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shrestha said: "Nepal-China educational cooperation continues to deepen, and China has become one of the most popular study abroad destinations for Nepali students. China provides various scholarships for Nepali students and sends Chinese experts, scholars, volunteer teachers, etc. to Nepal, which greatly promotes educational exchanges and cooperation between the two countries."
Cultural activities are becoming more and more abundant
Not long ago, the sixth half-year Chinese training course for Nepalese tourism talents was launched in Kathmandu, with more than 50 students from the Nepal Tourism Board, Customs, Immigration Bureau and various tourism industry associations participating. Recently, the first Nepal Chinese pop dance competition was held in Kathmandu. Nepalese young students danced happily to Chinese songs, expressing their love for Chinese culture.
The connotation of cultural exchanges between China and Nepal has been continuously deepened. The holding of numerous cultural activities has further consolidated the public opinion foundation for the friendship between the two countries from generation to generation. In February this year, at the China-Nepal Cultural Summit held in Kathmandu, primary school students from both countries performed Chinese songs, traditional Nepalese dances and other cultural programs together, and the scene was filled with laughter. In March this year, the first Nepal National Dragon Boat Race was held at Begnas Lake in Pokhara. The contestants competed for the first place, and the sound of horns came one after another. The audience on the shore cheered and cheered enthusiastically. The dragon boat race organized for the first time by the Pokhara Tourism and Hotel Association was warmly welcomed by the local people, and the event further promoted the local people's understanding of Chinese culture.
Nepali Prime Minister Oli said that the increasingly rich cultural activities between the two countries are conducive to deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said that the future of China-Nepal relations and the continuation of friendship are in the hands of the young people of the two countries. He hoped that young friends would strive to be the inheritors of the China-Nepal friendship from generation to generation, the promoters of practical cooperation in various fields, and the builders of the future of China-Nepal relations, injecting more youthful vitality into the relations between the two countries.
"A vivid portrayal of Nepal-China friendship"
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and has attracted tourists from all over the world for its unique natural scenery over the years.
"In the past, tourists had to transfer in Kathmandu and take a domestic feeder plane to reach Pokhara," said Ranu, manager of the Nepal Tourism Board. For decades, the local area has been hoping to have a modern international airport. Today, the Pokhara International Airport built by China International Engineering Corporation has effectively promoted the connectivity between central and western Nepal and the outside world.
The Pokhara International Airport project, which started construction in 2017, was completed after five years and was put into operation in early 2023. As of February 2024, the Pokhara International Airport has served more than 1 million passengers, and all facilities are operating well. Yasoda, deputy general manager of Pokhara International Airport, said that the completion of the new airport has realized the long-cherished wish of the Nepalese people and promoted cultural and tourism exchanges between Nepal and other countries.
"The night flight function of the new airport is a highlight, which has greatly improved the air transportation capacity of Pokhara." According to Zhang Chenggang, chief engineer of the project, the airport is equipped with advanced automatic instrument landing and navigation lighting systems to provide strong support for night flights. Passengers can now easily travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara on the same day, and there are multiple flights to choose from.
Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Director Pradeep said that Pokhara International Airport is a national honor project, and its completion has effectively driven local employment and economic development. In 2023, the new airport's passenger throughput will exceed 900,000, far higher than the old airport's operating capacity and profitability in previous years. As one of the organizers, the new airport provides charter flights and other services for many international events such as the "Nepal Pokhara International Mountain Cross-Country Race".
"When the weather is clear, if you look out from a high place, you will see that the wavy roof of the airport and the Annapurna Peak in the distance form a soaring eagle," Yasodha said. "This is a vivid portrayal of the friendship between Nepal and China. The relationship between the two countries will continue to soar to new heights."
(Our reporter Zhang Niansheng and Bai Yuanqi from Kathmandu)
Source: People's Daily Online
