The Dragon Boat Race Festival has started in the Lake City of Pokhara on Friday.
The boat race has begun as part of the 2-day Nepal China Friendship Program.
Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kiranti and the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal jointly inaugurated the program.
Dhanraj Acharya, the head of Pokhara Metropolitan Municipality, said that Pokhara was able to receive an international flight on the occasion of the festival. He expressed confidence that air connectivity, which started with chartered flights, will be regular.
He further said that it will help strengthen the relationship between China and Nepal.
Dhananjaya Regmi, chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board, said that it was organized with the aim of improving cultural and people-to-people relations between the two countries and increasing Chinese tourists in Nepal.
The participants from China came to Pokhara for boat race and were receiving training to take part in the competition a few days ago.
For the race, eight special types of plants and other materials have been brought from China through Nepal's Kerung Pass.
Along with the official opening of the event, there will be eight boat races in two segments, first 200 meters and then 500 meters.
Rs 2 million cash, medals and certificates will be awarded to the winners of the competition.
Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy in Nepal and Pokhara Metropolitan City are the organizers of the event.
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