Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On the evening of 14 January 2024, the opening ceremony of the international New Year gala concert “Sounds of Spring. Golden Dream - 2024” and a reception in honor of the Chinese New Year and several events dedicated to the New Year was held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

China and Nepal, both bordered by the Himalayas, are connected by mountains and rivers and have been friends for generations. Even 1000 years ago, brave and wise caravan leaders from Yunnan opened the “Kham” (ancient tea route) to many valleys of the Himalaya, transporting Chinese silk, tea, porcelain, thus connecting southwest China with Nepal, Bhutan and India. Today, as the joint construction of the Belt and Road continues to advance, better infrastructure, as well as free trade routes and more integrated communication mechanisms, have brought the two nations closer together.

Nepal and China are close neighbors; they are connected not only by mountains and rivers, but also by people and culture. The best example of their close relationship is that both countries celebrate New Year according to their own lunar calendar. Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda said that this New Year celebration reflects the close relations between Nepal and China and will further develop bilateral relations.

“I believe that in the future Nepal and China will maintain even closer relations,” the head of the Nepalese government noted in his speech.

Along with the Government of Nepal, the events were organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, the Information Bureau of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government.