SATV, 6 June, Kathmandu: Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 7th Chinese Language Training Course organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and co-organized by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Center, Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, stated that knowledge of language is essential for deepening ties between the two countries. Although Nepal and China share a long history of relations, the lack of linguistic exchange has posed some challenges to the friendship between the two nations. However, the increasing interest of the younger generation in the Chinese language is a positive development, he added. He appreciated the initiative taken by the Chinese Embassy, the Nepal Tourism Board, and the Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Center in this regard.
The organizers informed that the duration of the Chinese language training is six months. During this period, students will be able to pass the HSK Level 3 examination, according to Harish Chandra Sah, Chairman of the Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Center. He mentioned that so far, 240 trained individuals have demonstrated their skills in various fields such as hotel business, trekking guidance, tour and travel companies, and translation in different organizations. This has significantly contributed to strengthening the Nepal-China friendship, he added.
With a strong presence of professionals from various tourism-related occupations, the event was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, His Excellency Chen Song. He remarked that currently, one out of every ten tourists in the world is Chinese, and if Nepal could attract even a small portion of them, it would have a significant positive impact on Nepal's economy and tourism promotion. He stated that the Chinese consider Nepal a land close to the gods and a paradise for trekking. If a Chinese-speaking environment can be created in Nepal, it would make the country even more appealing to Chinese tourists. He added that the Chinese Embassy is also working towards this goal.
The organizers expressed confidence that the students of this 7th batch will use their language skills in Nepal and China to become ambassadors of Nepal-China friendship, cultural exchange, and diplomatic partnership.
