Kathmandu – Nepal and China are exploring new opportunities to deepen cooperation in mountaineering, mountain tourism and outdoor adventure sports, as a delegation of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) completed a six-day exchange visit to Sichuan Province.
Led by NMA President Fur Gelje Sherpa, the delegation visited Kangding and Hailuogou from Sept. 18 to 23 at the invitation of the Chinese Mountaineering Association. The visit brought together professionals from two countries with long traditions of mountain exploration and adventure.
The *ChinaâNepal Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Exchange Programme* focused on areas ranging from climbing and mountain guiding to high-altitude rescue, sport climbing, safety and environmental conservation.
The delegation observed mountain tourism infrastructure and disaster-prevention systems in Sichuan, gaining insights into how mountain destinations are being developed for climbers, trekkers and outdoor-sports enthusiasts.
Discussions also explored the sharing of expertise in mountain guiding and rescue, as well as the assessment and development of suitable climbing routes. Such exchanges could help strengthen technical capacity and create greater opportunities for cross-border cooperation in mountain adventure tourism.
For Nepal, home to some of the world’s highest mountains, cooperation in climbing safety, professional training and sustainable destination management remains important as the country seeks to diversify its adventure-tourism offerings.
The visit highlighted the potential for Nepal and China to expand collaboration not only in mountaineering but also in sport climbing, mountain recreation, rescue preparedness and environmentally responsible outdoor tourism.
The exchange comes as both countries look to build stronger links between their mountain communities and promote the Himalayas and surrounding highland regions as destinations for adventure, exploration and cultural discovery.
