By APD writer Hantao

Nepal attaches great importance its cooperation with China in tourism and culture under the Belt and Road Initiative, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the former vice prime minister and foreign minister of Nepal, said recently.

He made the remarks during the interview with the Asia Pacific Daily (APD) last week on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Green Industrial Integration Forum, one of the sub-forums of the 2018 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo, in Guangzhou City, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.

Noting the tourism is a key industry for Nepali economic recovery and prosperity, Shrestha expressed his willingness to enhance ties with China in this sector as the country is witnessing the remarkable increase in Chinese tourists in recent years.

Boasting many beautiful natural sceneries which are attractive for Chinese tourists, Nepal hopes that the intensive connectivity in transportation such as roads, railways and aviation will facilitate the cooperation in tourism between the two countries, he said.

In order to provide more convenient services for Chinese tourists, Nepal has made sustainable efforts to improve its service quality including offering full board service, Chinese-speaking guides service and a Chinese tourism website for Chinese tourists that can access to tourism information easier .

In addition to the tourism cooperation, cultural exchange is also key to the bilateral ties. As the Belt and Road Initiative has broadened the channel for cultural communication of the two countries, Shrestha said there will be great potentials for China and Nepal to strengthen the extensive cultural cooperation by inheriting and promoting the spirit of the ancient Silk Road.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)