Culture bridges Kathmandu and Guangzhou

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 17: Culture and civilisation have been time-tested elements connecting Nepal and China for centuries. In ancient times, physical connectivity between the two neighbours was constrained by the geographical difficulty. But nowadays, the interactions between the people and the governments of the two nations have grown by leaps and bounds thanks to modern means of communication and enhanced road and air connectivity.  

On Tuesday, 'Charming Guangzhou Meets Nepal' city image exhibition was held in Kathmandu to foster cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties, highlighting Guangzhou's vision as a global city bridging traditions and modernity. In recent years, Guangzhou and Nepal have witnessed deepening cooperation in trade, culture, tourism and education. 

The Guangzhou Culture Group delivered captivating performances, including the Cantonese opera White Dragon Pass and the acrobatic show Strength and Beauty. Over 30 iconic photographs depicting Guangzhou’s transformation from a millennium-old commercial hub to a modern international metropolis were exhibited, while the participants also savoured Cantonese cuisine. 

The event was hosted by the Information Office of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, organised by China Centre for International Communication Development, Guangzhou Culture Group, Guangzhou Restaurant Group, and MINISO, and co-organised bythe CICG Centre for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications). The colourful function has added new vigour as this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nepal diplomatic relations and the Nepal Tourism Year 2025. 

Binod Prakash Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said that the event showcased Guangzhou’s dynamism and Nepal’s hospitality. "It is a bridge between our peoples highlighting the vibrancy of Guangzhou and the warmth, diversity and timeless beauty of Nepal." 

Wang Xin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, said that China-Nepal relations had been rooted in the people, nurtured through mutual trust, and flourished through shared development. The event will further advance bilateral collaboration, open a new chapter of mutually beneficial development, and contribute wisdom and strength to regional and global peace and prosperity, said Wang.

Du Xinshan, Member of the Standing Committee and Director General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, emphasised Guangzhou’s role as a pivotal hub along the Maritime Silk Road, embracing the world with openness and inclusiveness. 

He described Kathmandu as a vibrant crossroads of South Asian civilisations and called for Guangzhou and Kathmandu to "navigate with trust as the vessel and innovation as the sail", jointly crafting a new narrative of friendly exchanges.