BEIJING: Around 50 Everest climbers from Nepal and China, including mountaineer and federal lawmaker Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, have been honored in Beijing, the capital of China.

According to the Nepali Embassy, the climbers were honored during the ‘Nepal-China Mt. Everest Adventure Festival’ organized by the Embassy of Nepal here on Friday evening to mark the 73rd International Everest Day.

Former Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar and Charge d’Affaires of the Nepali Embassy, Roshan Khanal, presented certificates of appreciation to 29 Chinese and 24 Nepali climbers.

The event was organized with the objective of promoting mountain tourism in Nepal and enhancing cooperation between Nepali and Chinese mountaineering and tourism entrepreneurs.

On the occasion, Khanal, Nepal’s Charge d’Affaires to China, highlighted the significance of Mt. Everest, the spirit of adventure tourism, and Nepal’s role as the hub of the global mountaineering community.

She expressed confidence that such programs would help further strengthen people-to-people relations between Nepal and China.

Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, a Member of the House of Representatives and an Everest climber, pointed out the need to further deepen Nepal-China tourism cooperation.

Nima Nuru Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, stated that joint initiatives between the two countries are essential for the promotion of mountain tourism.

Bibek Rijal, Counselor at the Nepali Embassy, gave a presentation introducing Nepal’s tourism destinations. Nepal’s record-holding climber Lakpa Dendi Sherpa and Chinese climbers shared their Everest climbing experiences.

An exhibition featuring photographs of Nepal’s tourism destinations was also held at the event venue.

The event saw the participation of around 200 people, including representatives from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, international mountain tourism-related organizations, diplomats from various countries, Chinese tourism entrepreneurs, and members of the Nepali community.

From Nepal, representatives from the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Expedition Operators Association, Everest Climbers Association, Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, as well as over a dozen trekking and mountaineering companies participated.

On the same occasion, a business-to-business (B2B) networking program was also organized with the aim of expanding cooperation between tourism entrepreneurs of Nepal and China.