Kathmandu, February 21 (SATV) — On February 20, the “2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival Fair” was held in a vibrant and festive atmosphere, jointly organized by the China Cultural Center and China Southern Airlines. The event was attended by Nepal’s Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Anil Kumar Sinha, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming, Deputy Director of China Cultural Center in Nepal Liu Zhanping, General Manager of China Southern Airlines’ Kathmandu office, Yang Wenfu, President of the Arniko Society Dr. Sushil Prajapati along with senior officials, diplomats, business leaders, and representatives from the cultural sector.

The program featured a variety of engaging activities, including cultural performances, interactive experiences, and a lucky draw. The celebration opened with a traditional Chinese lion dance, followed by a performance of Nepal’s Living Goddess dance, showcasing the beauty and richness of Nepal’s traditional culture. The cultural presentations from both China and Nepal complemented each other and captivated the audience.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Director Liu Zhanping of the cultural center emphasized that culture is the strongest bridge connecting people and expressed commitment to elevating China–Nepal cultural and tourism cooperation to new heights.

Similarly, Yang Wenfu, General Manager of China Southern Airlines’ Kathmandu office, shared that in 2025 the airline operated 1,088 flights, serving more than 213,000 passengers. He reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to making air connectivity between China and Nepal safer, more convenient, and higher in quality.

Dr. Sushil Prajapati, President of the Arniko Society, noted that Nepal–China relations are rooted in historical, cultural, and people-to-people friendship. He said the Spring Festival further strengthened the close bond between the two nations and emphasized building an “evergreen bridge” of friendship based on mutual respect, cooperation, and partnership.

Zhou Pan, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, described the Year of the Horse as a symbol of progress, energy, and hope. He stated that grounded in thousands of years of friendship, China–Nepal relations are moving toward an even closer shared future. He highlighted cultural exchange as an important means of enhancing trust and mutual understanding between the two countries.

During the event, Ambassador Zhang Maoming presented a round-trip air ticket between China and Kathmandu as a special prize through a lucky draw, adding further excitement to the celebration.

The 2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival Fair is regarded as an important opportunity to further deepen people-to-people friendship between China and Nepal. The organizers expressed their commitment to continuing such cultural programs in the future to further expand cooperation and strengthen ties between the two nations.