First of all, greeting to everyone!

I am very happy to participate in this program today and sign a bilateral cooperation agreement between Suining People’s Government and Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City on culture, tourism, and health.

The relationship between Nepal and China is more than five thousand years old. The history of the two countries mentions the marriage of Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal with King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet, the famous Nepalese artist Araniko went to China, and he built many Chaitya monasteries and viharas including the White Pagoda, and Araniko got married while going to different places in China. We have a rich history including Chinese tourist Huayan Shang visiting Nepal. What this further explains is that the relationship between Nepal and China was conspicuous in the world.

Nepal’s relationship with China is not the only one today. Traditionally, we have an inseparable relationship with China. The rope of this relationship has become stronger and stronger. To make this rope stronger, we have moved on from one stage of establishing a new relationship. I hope that the experiences that will be exchanged after this sisterly relationship will help us move forward in the overall development of our municipality.

Our region is also important in terms of cultural relations and tourists. We are rich in culture including Tharu, Awadhi, and others. As the costumes of Tharus, the oldest indigenous people of Nepal’s Terai region, are similar to some Chinese ethnicities, its culture will surely attract the hearts of the Chinese who visit this region. After establishing a relationship between us, we the two municipalities will work together making the same thought on the issue of bringing in Chinese tourists to this area. This will help our municipality to develop this area as a Chinese tourist area. In addition to this, we expect that such a relationship will also strengthen the relationship in level of people.

The relationship between tourism, culture, health, and people-to-people will bring the relationship between the two cities to a higher level. It can also be developed as a new bridge of relationship between Nepal and China. The experiences of your city’s prosperity will further support our city, which is moving forward in development. The experiences shared with each other will be the greatest unwritten lessons for us.

Nepalgunj city is one of the oldest cities in Nepal. Its history is very old and prosperous. It is one of the best regions in the country in terms of historical heritage, culture, herbs, grains, and fruits. It is a repository of natural minerals. There are natural gas, iron, copper, gold, crystal, kyanite, topaz, garnet, and other stone mines in this area. The excavation work of which is about to start. A Chinese company is working on Dailekh’s natural gas reserves. Gold mining excavation operations started by a Chinese company have now stopped. People of all castes and religions live in Nepal. The main indigenous here are Tharu and Awadhi communities. The people here are of a nature to enjoy entertainment, travel, tourism, and hospitality. Chinese company Sinohydro has constructed dams on Babai and Rapti rivers. The water of the Babai and Rapti rivers is also being used in agriculture. There is also the main Dhara mustard oil production company in Nepal. Banke and Bardia National Parks are located here. Thousands of tourists come every year from countries including America to enjoy jungle life.

There are ponds like Dhambojhi Waterpark and Rani Talau. There are more than three hundred hotels with facilities. There are about 30 hotels of four stars and five stars. We are in the far south of Taklakot, bordering China. As the Nepal government has started the construction of the highway connecting China, the distance between us will be closer geographically in the near future. We are connected to the border of India in the south. A highway has been built to go towards India. It is the third-largest commercial border crossing between Nepal and India. We are also prosperous in the field of health. Bheri Hospital is a government hospital with an old history. Nepalgunj Medical College, Khajura Cancer Hospital, Tuberculosis Hospital, and other big hospitals are there.

Nepalgunj is located in the Midwestern region of Nepal. This area is also important from the point of view of rivers. There are many rivers and streams here including the Karnali River, Bheri River, Rapti River, and Babai River. Similarly, there are famous lakes and ponds such as Dhambojhi Water Park, Bageshwari and Rani Talau, Badhaiya Lake, Shey Phoksundo Lake, Kupinde Daha, and Rara Lake.

Sisne Himal, Kanjirowa Himal, and Patarasi Himal are the main mountains of this region. There are protected wetlands and dense forests including Banke National Park, Bardiya National Park, Shey Phoksundo National Park, and Rara National Park that attract tourists. Kailash Mansarovar, the holy place of Hindu pilgrimage, is located in Tibet, China. Nepalgunj is the simplest, easiest, and shortest route to reach there. Besides increasing the attractiveness of this city, it seems to have a great importance in promoting tourism. In addition, the largest lake in western Nepal is Kanti Lake, which has an area of 7 hectares, the graceful environment of this lake has made it a center of attraction for the general public as well as the natural diversity. The Ramlila Manchan, which started around 108 years ago, has become a big destination for Indian audiences. Almost thirty percent of Nepal’s tourism is accounted for by this sector. Tourism covers an area of 42,378 square kilometers.

In this area, there are tigers, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, bears, lions, deer, antelopes, wildebeests, rhinoceros, wildebeests, chitals, wildebeests, squirrel, porcupine, rabbits, monkeys, gunas (black monkey), thousands of species of birds, river dolphins, and hundreds of fish, crocodiles, gadhiyal crocodiles, butterflies of different species are also found.

By establishing a formal relationship between Suining People’s Government and Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, we can learn to understand each other closely and make an important contribution to exchange cooperation. I express my gratitude to the friend who played a role in establishing the relationship between us. I and the Nepalgunj sub-metropolitan family are always ready to advance the relationship between the two cities in a multifaceted manner. We will give up to 25% discount on lodging, food and traveling to Chinese tourists and create an investment-friendly environment. Similarly, we will protect Chinese investors. I believe that our relationship will be fruitful in the future.

May the Nepal-China relationship be eternal.

Prashanta Bista
Mayor
Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan, Nepalgunj Banke