Your Excellency Mr. Lila Mani Paudyal, Chief Secretary of Office of Prime Minister,
Mr. Subash Niroula, CEO of Tourism Board of Nepal,
Mr. Harish Shah, President of Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Society,
Mr. Kishor Shrestha, President of Nepal-China Media Forum,
Mr. Prakash Babu Paudel, President of Nepal-China Friendship Youth Association,
Mr. Prakash Babu Pauldel, Foreign Director of CRI Confucius Classroom in Nepal,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
Good afternoon.
I’m very glad to attend the seminar of “Importance of Chinese Language to Promote Tourism in Nepal” organized by Confucius Classroom of China Radio International in Nepal.
Tourism, comprehensive and inter-industrial, is the modern service industry, which can obviously promote the growth of its relevant trade and industry. Developing tourism can greatly give impetus to the development of the tertiary industry, such as transportation, commercial-retail, financial service, postal and telecommunication, cultural recreation, accommodation, business convention and exhibition and so on. It also plays an important and positive role in promoting the development of overall economy and society.
China and Nepal are ancient countries with abundant cultural resources. What’s more, tourism is the significant carrier of culture; therefore, tourism will provide broad market for the prosperity and development of culture, economy and society. More and more Chinese people are attracted by unique culture and natural scenery of Nepal. Thus, Nepal has become the highlight of the travel for Chinese people. According to the statistics of the Chinese side, over the last ten years, the number of Chinese tourists who travelled in Nepal has roughly increased ten-fold. In 2012, the number of Chinese tourists in Nepal is more than 130,000 people, and Nepali tourists who travelled in China are up to 40,000 people. We could see that there is a huge potential for tourism cooperation between China and Nepal.
China-Nepal friendly and cooperative relationship is based on the friendship between the two peoples, and the tourism will provide a good platform for boosting the friendship between the two peoples. More bilateral visits will greatly enhance the cultural integration and mutual understanding between China and Nepal, promoting the all-round partnership to develop rapidly.
Language is a bridge of communication. It’s my pleasure to see that more and more Nepali people are eager to learn Chinese language and understand China. It is beneficial to mutual communication and exchanges which will lay more solid foundation for the development of tourism and its related industries. In recent years, Chinese-language teaching, like Confucius Institute, Confucius Classroom and Chinese volunteer teachers, maintains a good momentum. I do believe that promoting Chinese language will provide better guarantee for tourism in Nepal, especially the tourism cooperation between China and Nepal. China will continue to provide support and help for Nepali friends to learn Chinese and understand China.
Finally, Before the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, I would like to extend my warm greetings to all the guests and wish every one good health and all the best in the New Year.
Thank you!