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Boosting tourism collaboration between China and Nepal can help strengthen mutual exchanges in various other fields, including economy, trade and culture, bolstering bilateral ties and advancing people-to-people bonds, Nepali experts said.

According to the latest statistics released by the Nepal Tourism Board, or NTB, the Himalayan nation recorded over 1 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of 2025. The country welcomed 1,060,269 foreign tourists from January to November, compared with 1,055,520 visitors in the corresponding period last year.

India retained the top spot among the source markets for foreign tourists during the period, followed by the United States, while China ranked third with 86,800 arrivals recorded during the 11 months.

The robust volume of Chinese tourists in Nepal came as 2025 was designated as "Visit Nepal Year in China". The year also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.

"It is very important to keep enhancing people-to-people friendship through tourism, art performances, educational cooperation," said Harish Chandra Shah, president of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council.

He said Nepal and China enjoy common cultural affinity, social linkages and familial relations, but they also have different, diverse cultures and traditions.

Shah said that efforts have been underway in the recent past to boost cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. Among such initiatives, a conference was held in Kathmandu in May this year to promote collaboration between China and Nepal in the fields of cultural tourism and road-rail transport. The event led to the signing of agreements on tea trade and cultural tourism exchange.

Suresh Man Maharjan, founder and CEO of Himalayan Legends, a tour operator based in Kathmandu, said Nepal has particular charm for Chinese tourists, due to the vast diversity of landscapes as well as a wide range of activities that the landlocked nation offers, including exploring its folk culture and arts, ancient civilization, learning about its exotic flora and fauna, taking part in hiking and trekking, and enjoying adventure sports such as paragliding and river rafting.

Immersive travel

He said apart from the traditional mode of tourism, a new mode of immersive travel has been fostering closer ties. Here, primary and middle school students are offered an opportunity to experience Nepali folk music, or enjoy homestays in Nepal's villages.

"The latter can help young students from China gain an idea of the authentic lifestyle of the local villagers who live at the foot of the Himalayan mountains so they can understand each other's culture and customs," said the Nepali travel expert.

"This new mode of experience-based tours will become increasingly popular in future as participants can actively pursue knowledge about Nepal rather than just go sightseeing."

China and Nepal have enjoyed good connectivity, said experts in the travel industry. Himalaya Airlines, a China-Nepal joint venture based in Kathmandu, has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city, and Lhasa, the capital city of China's Xizang autonomous region, and between Kathmandu and Southwest China's Chongqing.

Earlier this year, the carrier started the first-ever direct commercial flights between Lhasa and Pokhara, Nepal's second-largest city and a popular tourist attraction.

Prakash Pun, a tourism promoter in Hong Kong for Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said that tourism can help bridge the gap or narrow differences between people and cultures.

"It will lead to more frequent commercial activities and diplomatic exchanges between the two sides," he said. Source: China Daily

Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari has announced his candidacy for the post of President at the party's 15th general convention.

Bhandari announced his candidacy for the party President via social media on Wednesday, saying that he is ready to move ahead in line with the interests of the people, values of democracy, and organizational needs.

Earlier, General Secretary Gagan Thapa had announced his candidacy for the post of President.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 252, 100 per tola today. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 3, 600 per tola.

Indian Army and Nepal Army jointly conducted two-day battalion-level validation exercise as part of 19th edition of Exercise SURYAKIRAN in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

The exercise highlighted seamless interoperability, synchronised mission planning and coordinated execution of combined tactical operations in a counter-terrorism environment.

During the exercise, the drills integrated a range of niche technologies including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and precision-targeting drones, advanced day and night weapon sights and AI-enabled surveillance feeds.

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India Army, Lt. General Manish Luthra and the DGMO of Nepal Army, Anup Jung Thapa jointly planted a Tree of Friendship, reaffirming the timeless bonds and strategic cooperation between both the nations.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on December 1 approved the Nepali authorities’ request for a four-month extension of the country’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.

The extension, which runs until May 11, 2026, is to provide sufficient time for the completion of the seventh review of the program.

The IMF Executive Board approved the 38-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement for Nepal on January 12, 2022, providing access to SDR 282.42 million—equivalent to 180 percent of the country’s quota—reads a statement issued by the International Monetary Fund. 

The IMF Executive Board on May 1, 2023 approved an extension of the ECF arrangement until January 11, 2026, along with a rephasing of the program’s disbursements, according to IMF Country Report No. 23/158.

The Executive Board’s decision was taken on a lapse-of-time basis.

The Executive Board takes the decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) marked its historic 40th anniversary of the adoption of its charter on Monday, commemorating four decades since South Asian leaders endorsed the document during the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka on December 8, 1985.

The day has since been observed annually as SAARC Charter Day.

On the occasion, the Heads of State/Government and Foreign Ministers of SAARC Member States issued dedicatory special messages highlighting the importance of SAARC as a shared platform to foster mutual understanding, collaboration and solidarity in order to build a peaceful, prosperous and integrated South Asia.

Reaffirming their commitment to the ideals and founding objectives as articulated in the Charter, the leaders also acknowledged the imperatives of concerted efforts and meaningful action to harness economic potentials, achieve sustained and equitable development, and to address the shared challenges confronting the region bound by history, culture and destiny.

In addition, the leaders conveyed their felicitations and greetings to the peoples and Governments of the Member States on the occasion of the Charter Day.

In his message, Secretary General of SAARC Md. Golam Sarwar, extended gratitude to the esteemed Member States, Observer States, Development Partners, Diplomatic Missions, regional and international organizations for their invaluable cooperation and support to SAARC through all these years. He also wished for their continued goodwill and steadfast support in the years to come as well.

SAARC has journeyed far, Secretary General said, recounting briefly the journey of SAARC from its focus on institutional strengthening and norm setting in priority areas to the implementation of programs across an array of sectors with a view to materialize the collective aspirations of the people of South Asia. He also hailed the Charter Day as an important occasion to reflect on the past accomplishments and to forge renewed commitment to reinvigorate the SAARC process.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of SAARC Charter, the Secretary General of SAARC and his spouse will host a diplomatic reception in Kathmandu in the evening of December 9, 2025.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 251, 900 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 252, 900 per tola on Monday.

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 3, 600 per tola.

The Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organized the third edition of the India-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini on Monday.

Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Governor of Lumbini Province, Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Dr Lharkyal Lama, Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust, and Dr Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu jointly inaugurated the program.

Showcasing the shared cultural heritage and traditions of India and Nepal, the festival highlighted Buddhist history and values, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. 

The event featured a cultural program, with performances by renowned artists from both countries.

A six-member ICCR troupe led by Sandhya Kunjan Menon Das performed an Odissi dance recital with a Buddhist theme. The evening also included a traditional musical performance by a Nepali band ‘Ghugu Mugu’.

As a part of this festival, an academic seminar titled “India-Nepal Buddhist Heritage: A common Legacy” was organized at the Lumbini Buddhist University in the forenoon of 08 December 2025, according to the statement. 

Eminent Buddhist scholars from India and Nepal discussed the significance of Buddhist heritage in strengthening cultural ties and fostering people-to-people connections between the two countries.

The event underscored the strong cultural and historical bonds between the two nations.

The event drew enthusiastic participation from civil society members, academics, senior monks, and members from the Lumbini Development Trust.