Mr. Ninu Chapagain, President of Devkota Lu Xun Academy, All the members, writers and poets,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Good afternoon. I feel very pleased to attend the inauguration ceremony of Devkota Lu Xun Academy. On behalf of Chinese Embassy in Nepal, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the inauguration of Devkota Lu Xun Academy.
China and Nepal are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. The traditional friendship between us started from cultural exchanges and interactions. Chinese monk Fa Xian in Jin Dynasty and Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty came to Nepal for pilgrimage. Nepal’s famous artist Arniko went to China and built White Pagoda Temple. These have become much-told tales of the two peoples from generation to generation.
In recent years, as China-Nepal Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation continues to deepen, the cultural exchanges and cooperation between us have also gained a much better momentum. Cultural and Art delegations of our two countries frequently exchange visits. China festival, Chinese film festival in Nepal and Nepali Cultural Festival in China were held successfully, received high popularity among the two peoples. Confucius Institute in Katmandu University is enlarging its scare and Chinese volunteer teachers are in high demand. In this January, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid a successful visit to Nepal, during which the two state leaders declared this year as “Nepal- China Friendly Exchange Year 2012”. The Chinese side will make joint efforts with the Nepali side to implement the consensus reached by our state leaders, to push forward the friendly exchanges and interactions between the two peoples and consolidate the foundation of our friendly relations.
Devkota and Lu Xun are the leading authority of literature in Nepal and China respectively. They have similar status in and contributions to the cultural development of their own country. From my Nepali friends, I know that Devkota is the most famous and talent poet and writer in Nepal. Every Nepali knows Devkota and his work started the modern literature of Nepal. While Lu Xun is the great foundation-layer of Chinese contemporary literature. He published China’s first modern novel --A Madman's Diary in 1918, which was regarded as the first spring thunder of Chinese literature revolution. Lu Xun dedicated his whole life to the destiny of the nation and happiness of the people. His works, thought and spirit continue to educate and encourage one generation by another in China.
Today, we are happy to see the experts and scholars in Nepal set up Devkota Lu Xun Academy. The academy will be committed to the research and exchanges in related areas. Both China and Nepal are ancient civilizations, abundant with excellent writers, works and cultural heritage. I believe Devkota Lu Xun Academy will provide a new platform to the exchanges in literature and culture between the two countries and further strengthen the friendly relation between the two peoples.
At last, I wish the success of Devkota Lu Xun Academy and may China-Nepal friendship last forever. Thank you.