Kathmandu January 13.

A three-month-long training on Chinese language and culture for Nepali journalists has kicked off in Lalitpur today. Nepal-China Media Forum and Confucius Institute of the Kathmandu University (KU) jointly organized the training. Inaugurating the training, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel stressed the need to develop bilateral relations between Nepal and China with newer dimensions as both the nations have enjoyed longstanding trouble-free ties. Nepal has enjoyed cordial relations with Chinese government, people and culture, the minister claimed, urging trainee journalists to act as good will ambassadors when inflow of Chinese tourists is expected to rise in the context of Visit Nepal Year 2020. Underlining the need of promoting mutual learning and understanding of cultures, he also urged the trainee journalists to work for spreading Nepal’s fundamental culture to China. Media Forum Chair and Press Council Nepal’s acting Chair Kishor Shrestha said learning Chinese language would be beneficial for Nepal. Director of Confucius Institute Prof Dr Wang Shengli said the training would offer opportunity for journalists to develop skill and capacity to write news in Chinese language by developing better awareness about Chinese affairs and China’s opinion about Nepal. The training would be delivered by competent trainers with comprehensive reading materials and the outstanding trainees would be provided scholarship opportunity in China, he shared. Likewise, KU Registrar Dr Subodh Sharma shared that the Confucius Institute has so far imparted Chinese language and culture training to over 12,000 trainees in Nepal. Some 57 journalists are participating in the training.