KATHMANDU, Dec 3: At the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Office of China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, a women’s conference was held in Lhasa from November 24 to 28, focusing on multiple dimensions of Nepal–China women’s cooperation. The event featured extensive discussions between representatives of both countries on women’s rights, legal issues, health, Tibetan healing practices, women’s entrepreneurship, tourism, herbal products, and handicraft development.
The Nepali delegation included Shova Gyawali, president of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN); Vice President Sunita Vaidya Shrestha; RSS journalist Kalika Khadka; Nida Don Malla, Vice President of the CNI Young Entrepreneurs Forum; Dr Bishnu Basyal, Assistant Professor at Law Campus; Nepali youth representatives in China Kundan Sharma and Shreeya Giri; Gen-Z member Ojaswi Bhattarai and Pratiksha Ghale Gurung.
FWEAN President Gyawali said the visit was highly productive. According to her, China has pledged support for free skill-development training, entrepreneurship enhancement programs and cooperation in tourism, herbal products, agriculture and handicrafts for Nepali entrepreneurs. She added that Tibetan medicine could be especially valuable in Nepal’s Himalayan districts like Mustang, Manang, Humla and Dolpa.
Nepal’s first International Running Conference to be held in Ju...
The Nepali delegation was led by a member of Indigenous Nationalities Commission Reena Rana. She noted that this was the first formal conference initiated through women’s participation in the 70-year diplomatic history of Nepal–China relations. According to her, the conference has created a strong foundation for strengthening friendship and exploring new avenues of cooperation between women of both countries.
The Nepali team studied Tibetan medicine including natural herbs, traditional methods and diagnostic procedures. According to Rana, Tibetan healing is affordable, simple and closely aligned with Nepali indigenous practices. Chinese officials responded positively to the idea of running training programs in Nepal.
Detailed discussions were held on women’s rights, legal developments, education, health, access to government services, entrepreneurship and social leadership. Representatives of both countries exchanged experiences and identified areas for potential collaboration. Ouyang Zhibing, Deputy Director General of the Xizang Foreign Affairs Office, expressed confidence that this women-led cooperation would add new momentum to the 70-year diplomatic relationship.
The involvement of young entrepreneurs, journalists, legal professionals, and engineers brought new perspectives to the conference. The Chinese side also assured support for Nepali youth in skill development, education, and technology-focused initiatives. Additionally, with Nepali handicraft products gaining popularity in China, the delegation believes cultural and economic cooperation between the two countries is likely to expand further.
