KATHMANDU, June 23: The two-day Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival began in Pokhara from today. The boat race is being organized at the joint initiative of Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy in Nepal and Pokhara Metropolitan City.

The festival is being organized with the aim of attracting Chinese tourists to Nepal while strengthening the cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

A total of 120 participants from Nepal and China are taking part in the festival, competing in eight boat races spanning 200 and 500 meters. Chinese officials have announced a cash prize of three million rupees for the winners. The Chinese players arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to participate in the competition.

Alongside the boat races, the festival also features cultural performances and food exhibitions representing both countries. China has previously organized similar events in over 50 countries, and this competition has also been included in the Asian Games. The organizers aim to make this an annual event in Pokhara, promoting cultural exchange and harmony.

Pomnarayan Shrestha, chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, said that the boat race is going to be held for the first time outside of China in South Asia and it is believed that the event will increase the arrival of Chinese tourists in the tourist city of Pokhara and the country as a whole.

According to him, the event is expected to help make Pokhara's tourism more sustainable. The Chinese team landed directly at Pokhara International Airport from a charter flight to participate in the boat race festival.

 
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