Kathmandu: An interaction program on mountaineering tourism in expanding Nepal-Canada relations has concluded, discussing various dimensions of Nepal-Canada relations. The participating speakers discussed the efforts to be made at the government and private levels to further strengthen the relationship between Nepal and Canada, commemorating the 61st year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Diplomatic relations were formally established between Nepal and Canada in 1965.
Lakpa Dorji Sherpa, a mountaineer, was honoured at the program organized by the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association. Sherpa was honoured by the President of the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association, Nirose Maskey, the chief guest, former Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, Ganga Prasad Upreti, the Patron of the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association, Hiranyalal Shrestha, former Ambassador to Canada Kali Prasad Pokhrel, and others jointly.
At the program, Ang Tshering Sherpa, Advisor to the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association, presented a working paper on the relations between Nepal and Canada. Sherpa presented a working paper on the relations between the two countries, tourism and mountaineering. The Vice President of the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association, Prof. Dr. Gopal Pokharel, spoke about the content of the program, while Devesh Dhungana, a member of the Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Society, discussed the economic, cultural, and tourism relations between the two countries.
Former President of Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association, Engineer Keshav Kunwar, thanked the new team led by Niroj Maskey for their active work. President of Nepal-Canada Friendship Cultural Association Maskey said that the association has been doing significant work in various fields such as cultural, social, economic, educational, and sports, since its establishment, to further strengthen the relations between the two countries. She said, “There are some cultural similarities between us and Canada. We are also rich in Himalayan culture, and Canada is also a country with Himalayan culture and civilization. In the coming days, we will work by making plans to expand mutual relations between the people of both countries.”
The chief guest of the program, former Chancellor of Nepal Pragya Pratishthan Ganga Prasad Upreti, emphasized that Canada and Nepal should work together on global social issues.
Lakpa Dorji Sherpa, who was honoured at the program, thanked the Friendship Association and said that it was a moment of pride for him to climb Mount Everest with a Canadian citizen. Sherpa climbed Everest with Canadian Laurie Skreslet. Laurie Skreslet is the first Canadian to climb Everest. The association had earlier also honoured Nepal’s record-breaking ultrarunner Mira Rai.
