Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong (C) hands a certificate to a participant as Secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Krishna Prasad Devkota (R) looks on at the graduation ceremony of the third Chinese Language Training Course for Nepalese Tourism Professionals in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on Nov. 27, 2018. Some 40 tourism professionals of Nepal graduated on Tuesday from the Chinese language training course provided by the Chinese government. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)
KATHMANDU, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 40 tourism professionals of Nepal graduated on Tuesday from an advanced Chinese language training course provided by the Chinese government.
The six-month Third Chinese Language Training Course for Nepalese Tourism Professionals was organized by the Chinese embassy in Nepal in coordination with Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
The language class has been organized as per an agreement reached between Nepal and China during Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to China in March 2016. According to the agreement, China will provide language training course to 200 tourism professionals of Nepal within five years.
Addressing the graduation ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal government officials expressed hope that the use of Chinese language will contribute to boosting the tourism industry of the Himalayan country.
"We are thankful to the Chinese government for organizing the training course since last three consecutive years and for enabling the tourism professionals to learn Chinese language. It is a big contribution to our tourism industry," Krishna Prasad Devkota, secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said.
He further said that the Chinese language could address the demands of Chinese-speaking guides and can serve more Chinese tourists.
The program came when the arrival of Chinese tourists is surging as China is the largest tourism source market for Nepal. In 2017, Nepal received nearly 1 million foreign tourists, with over 130,000 Chinese travelers.
Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong said the training program could bring more opportunities and bright future for the tourism professionals.
Stating that language is a bridge of communication between people of two countries, she also said that China attaches high importance for the cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
During the language training, the participants were also provided with training on Chinese culture, food, paper cutting and knot making, calligraphy among others.
According to the co-organizer, among the 40 tourism professionals, at least 29 passed the HSK tests of two, three and four level.
Manish Bajracharya, a tourist guide who performed a Chinese song in the event, told Xinhua, "The six-month course was really fruitful. Not just language, but we learned various aspects of culture. It will definitely support me in my profession."
On the occasion, the graduated professionals showed their language skills through the performance of Chinese song, poetry, speech and dance. The course was launched on April 20.
