"NMA Announces Major Agreement with China at Trans Himalayan Forum"

KATHMANDU, July 21:Nima Nuru Sherpa, Chairman of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), announced a significant bilateral agreement between Nepal and China, highlighting cooperative efforts in mountaineering and rescue operations. The deal was signed during the "Trans Himalayan Forum," held from July 3-5 in Nyingchi/Lulang City, China. 

This landmark agreement aims to bolster Nepal's mountain tourism by exchanging knowledge and skills in high-altitude climbing. It also emphasizes immediate rescue operations using the newly established High-Altitude Mountain Rescue Mechanism. There were also agreements for environmental preservation and the promotion of mountain culture by establishing a joint Himalayan Mountaineering Cultural Center.

Sherpa highlighted the 2005 joint climb of the Nepal-China Friendship Peak and proposed a similar expedition in 2025 to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. He clarified how this collaboration with the expedition aims to strengthen ties and promote mutual interests in mountaineering. "We have many mountains, and the Chinese are interested in climbing them. We are requesting government assistance to facilitate these climbs," Sherpa stated.

Sherpa clarified that while the NMA is fully capable and its climbers are well-acclimated, government-to-government communications can help alleviate policy issues and improve overall rescue efficiency. He emphasized that this cooperation encompasses all mountains in Nepal, not just those bordering China. He underscored the need for greater government support, noting that only 405 mountains are currently open for climbing, about 20% of Nepal’s peaks. 

Sherpa explained that while the NMA used to generate profit by selling peak permits directly, the current practice of providing revenue to the government has caused some financial challenges. “No monetary investment has been made from NMA for this event," he noted. He also requested the resumption of the bilateral Joint Tourism Coordination Committee meetings, which have been stalled since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sherpa mentioned that representatives from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s government and sports ministry, China Mountaineering Association, along with NMA and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, must collaborate for a renewed culture of cooperation between Nepal and China in the field of mountaineering.