KATHMANDU, May 7: Nepal Tourism Board in collaboration with Embassy of China in Nepal and Pokhara Municipal Corporation is set to organize Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival for the first time in Pokhara from June 23 to 24.

An agreement was signed between the Nepal Tourism Board and Chinese embassy officials regarding the event, which is to be organized with the aim of improving the cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries and increasing the number of Chinese tourists in Nepal. Pokhara Tourism Council, Nepal China Overseas Association will be the co-organizers of the event.

In the signing program in the presence of Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya and Nepal Tourism Board member Madan Acharya, the agreement was signed by Dr Dhananjay Regmi, Executive Head of the Board on behalf of the Nepal Tourism Board and Deputy Chief of Mission DCM Wang Jin on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.

The Chinese side has said that this type of vote race festival will be organized for the first time in South Asia. For the race, other participants will come to Nepal with eight special boats from China. All the seven provinces of Nepal will participate in the festival.

Speaking at the signing event, Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said that this type of program will add a new dimension to Nepal's overall tourism. He said that this program will add new products to the tourism of Pokhara and it will be organized every year.

Similarly, Executive head of the board Dr Dhananjay Regmi said that through the Boat Race Festival, it will help to make the tourism of Pokhara more sustainable. He also said that this program will attract many tourists through tripartite cooperation and participation of other stakeholders.

Likewise, DCM Wang Jin of the Chinese Embassy mentioned that Pokhara is an attractive destination for Chinese tourists and said that cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries will be further strengthened through this program. He said that this type of program was organized for the first time in South Asia and it will be continued in the future. A food festival will also be organized on the occasion.