Kathmandu— The Consulate General of Nepal in San Francisco organized International Everest Day 2026 at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond City on May 29, 2026, bringing together government officials, academics, entrepreneurs, and members of the Nepali diaspora to celebrate Nepal’s mountaineering heritage and strengthen international engagement.
The event began with a video message from Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Shishir Khanal, marking Everest Day under the theme “Sagarmatha, the Highest Peak of the World: Identity and Pride of Nepal.” The message highlighted Mount Everest’s symbolic significance and its role in shaping Nepal’s global identity.
Addressing the gathering, Consul General Lakshuman Khanal emphasized the importance of Everest Day and promoted Nepal as a premier tourism and investment destination. He also outlined recent policy reforms and incentives aimed at attracting foreign investment in infrastructure, tourism, services, and information technology, following the formation of a new government in March 2026.
Representatives from the United States, including John Y. Choi of the Office of the Foreign Mission, and Evan Reade, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of California, highlighted growing ties between Nepal and the United States, citing expanding cooperation in trade, education, tourism, and environmental stewardship.
Richmond City Mayor, Eduardo Martinez, and Hercules City Council Member, Dilli Bhattarai, also spoke at the event, reflecting on the historical legacy of Mount Everest’s first ascent and the growing Nepali community’s contributions to local society.
The program featured presentations on all eight of Nepal’s 8,000-meter peaks, along with research insights on climate change impacts in the Everest region shared by scholars from the University of California, Berkeley.
Four Everest summiteers from the Bay Area were honored during the event for their achievements and contributions. Speakers including climbers and academics shared personal experiences of Everest expeditions and emphasized the need for environmental conservation in the Himalayas.
The celebration was attended by more than 70 participants, including diplomats, academics from institutions such as Stanford University and UC Davis, Nepali entrepreneurs, and community leaders, underscoring the growing cultural and people-to-people connections between Nepal and the United States.
