Kathmandu – Nepal has launched a diplomatic language training programme for foreign service officers, introducing courses in Chinese, French and Arabic to strengthen linguistic skills and enhance the country’s diplomatic engagement.
The programme was officially launched on Monday during the Diplomatic Language Training Orientation Programme 2026, organised by the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Sagarmatha Hall in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu.
Inaugurating the programme, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said communication lies at the heart of diplomacy, stressing that learning new languages broadens perspectives and helps build stronger ties with people and communities around the world.
“Language proficiency enables diplomats to engage directly, exchange ideas more effectively and share Nepal’s story with the international community,” Khanal said.
According to the IFA, the initiative aims to improve the linguistic and professional competence of Nepal’s foreign service officers, making them more effective in diplomatic engagement and international assignments.
IFA Executive Director Rozina Tamrakar said language skills and cultural understanding are essential for building trust, strengthening diplomatic relations and promoting Nepal’s soft power and public diplomacy. She underscored the need for participants’ commitment and discipline, as well as sustained institutional support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure the programme’s long-term success.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming spoke about Chinese language learning and Nepal-China relations, while Elsa Calley, Chargé d’Affaires at the French Embassy in Kathmandu, highlighted the importance of French language education and Nepal-France ties.
The programme also featured presentations by Dr. Balaram Duwal, Nepal director of the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, and Anne-Laure Petit, academic director of Alliance Française de Katmandou, who introduced the curriculum and learning objectives for the Chinese and French language courses.
The IFA said the Chinese language course will be conducted in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, while the French course will be offered with the support of Alliance Française de Katmandou. Arabic language classes are expected to begin within the next two weeks.
Chinese classes will be held three days a week, while French and Arabic classes will each be conducted twice a week. Each session will last 90 minutes.
The institute said the programme forms part of a broader effort to integrate foreign language training into Nepal’s diplomatic education system and strengthen the linguistic and professional capacity of the country’s foreign service officers.
