SATV, Kathmandu, August 14 — The reception celebrating the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal and the award ceremony of the 2026 China-Nepal Friendship Short Video Contest was held with great solemnity and warmth on the evening of August 13 in Kathmandu. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Zhang Maoming, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal and over 300 distinguished guests from various walks of life, media friends, representatives of teachers and students gathered together to renew friendships and celebrate the enduring bond between the two nations.

In his address, Ambassador Zhang Maoming noted that China-Nepal relations have a long history and grow ever stronger with time. He reaffirmed China's readiness to work with Nepal to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and jointly build a China-Nepal community with a shared future.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai emphasized that over the past 71 years, Nepal-China bilateral relations have steadily progressed on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. He reiterated Nepal's firm commitment to the One-China Principle, stressing that no forces will be allowed to use Nepalese territory for any anti-China activities. He also expressed Nepal's willingness to broaden areas of cooperation to better benefit the peoples of both countries.

Following the speeches, the much-anticipated award ceremony officially commenced. Since its launch, the 2026 China-Nepal Friendship Short Video Contest had drawn enthusiastic participation and widespread attention from audiences on both sides of the Himalayas. Countless creators picked up their cameras to capture heartwarming snapshots of China-Nepal exchanges, producing ingenious works that showcased the charm of their blended cultures. Following rigorous review and deliberation by a professional jury panel, all award recipients were finalized.

The ceremony began with the presentation of the Online Popularity Award, which went to works that received the most likes and votes during the screening period, demonstrating broad resonance for China-Nepal friendship among the public.

This was followed by the Third Prize and Second Prize awards, with winners successively taking the stage to receive their certificates and cash prizes from Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoiming, in recognition of their outstanding creativity and contributions to promoting China-Nepal friendship.

The evening reached its pinnacle with the unveiling of the highest honour — the First Prize. This year's First Prize was awarded to Dipesh Syangdan, whose work stood out for its heartfelt inspiration and dedication. Using his face as his canvas, sincere emotion as his ink, and makeup as his brush, he painted the Potala Palace, Mount Everest, the unique charm of Kathmandu Valley, and the centuries-old beauty of Durbar Square. His performance was far more than face painting — it was a young man's heartfelt commitment to China-Nepal friendship. To resounding applause, Syangdan ascended the stage, where Foreign Secretary Rai and Ambassador Zhang Maoiming jointly presented him with the First Prize trophy.

Guests present remarked that these award-winning short videos captured not just images, but the genuine moments of people-to-people connection between the two countries — vivid testimony to the deep friendship that transcends the Himalayas and a beautiful chapter to be passed down through generations.

Hand in hand through seven decades, their enduring friendship has deepened with every passing year.