On December 30 local time in Kathmandu, to implement the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal signed by President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of Nepal, the signing and unveiling ceremony for the Nepal China Research Institute, jointly established by Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and Lumbini Buddhist University, was solemnly held at the Prime Minister's Residence in Nepal.
Under the witness of Prime Minister Oli, BLCU President Duan Peng and Lumbini Buddhist University Executive President Subarna Lal Bajracharya jointly signed the Framework Agreement on the Cooperation between Beijing Language and Culture University of the People's Republic of China and Lumbini Buddhist University of Nepal for Establishing the Nepal China Research Institute.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Oli personally unveiled the plaque for the Nepal China Research Institute alongside President Duan Peng. Attending the ceremony were Lumbini Buddhist University Executive President Subarna Lal Bajracharya, Minister-Counselor Wang Xin of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Lumbini Buddhist University Dean Tilak Ram Acharya, and Devdaha Education Development Project Coordinator Wang Yonghua from Lumbini Buddhist University.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Oli delivered a speech, warmly welcoming the delegation led by BLCU President Duan Peng to the Prime Minister's Residence and expressing full support for the cooperation. He noted that he had just visited China this month and reached a series of consensuses with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on strengthening educational cooperation between the two countries. The establishment of the Nepal China Research Institute is a proactive and effective measure to implement the leaders' consensus.
Prime Minister Oli pointed out that China and Nepal share a history of cultural exchanges spanning over 3,000 years. In the 5th century AD, Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian visited Lumbini, and in the 7th century, Chinese scholar Xuanzang also came here. Additionally, Buddha Bhadra from Nepal traveled to China, translating Buddhist classics from Sanskrit to Chinese. The spread of Chinese Buddhism is closely linked to Nepal. Many Buddhist classics were disseminated to China through Nepal, playing an important role in religious and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Prime Minister Oli stated that he has always attached great importance to educational cooperation, viewing education as a bridge for cultural exchanges and a bond for mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples. China's education system is robust, and efforts should be made to actively promote further cooperation between Nepal and China's education sectors to advance Nepal's educational development. At the end of his speech, Prime Minister Oli once again wished success to the cooperation between BLCU and Lumbini Buddhist University, believing it will bring more opportunities and results to both countries and strengthen mutual learning among civilizations for common development.
President Duan Peng, on behalf of BLCU, expressed profound respect to Prime Minister Oli for personally witnessing the signing and unveiling. President Duan pointed out that the jointly established Nepal China Research Institute is the first outcome in implementing the educational cooperation aspects of the December Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and Nepal, timely and of great significance.
BLCU is China's only university named after "language," renowned worldwide for its focus on international Chinese education. It spans 11 disciplines, offers 51 undergraduate programs, and hosts 26 research centers (bases) at the provincial/ministerial level or above. Currently, it has established three overseas branches in Japan, Thailand, and Kazakhstan; built 25 Confucius Institutes/Classrooms/Chinese projects across four continents in 14 countries; established 21 Sinology centers and two overseas China research institutes; and formed partnerships with 527 universities and educational institutions from 81 countries and regions. Over its more than 60 years, BLCU has trained over 80 foreign dignitaries at the deputy prime minister level or above and more than 300 foreign ambassadors, along with nearly 300,000 international alumni from 189 countries and regions who are proficient in Chinese and familiar with Chinese culture. This includes over 1,000 students from Nepal and other South Asian countries. In July this year, under the joint witness of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the unveiling ceremony for the BLCU Kazakhstan Branch was held. Over the past year, distinguished alumni such as the President of Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister of Georgia, the Speaker of the Parliament of Tajikistan, and the Prince of Lesotho have visited the university. BLCU has actively participated in major high-level people-to-people exchange mechanisms, such as China-France, and important events like the APEC Leaders' Summit, with leaders and dignitaries from multiple countries attending, contributing unique strengths to deepening China-foreign high-level cultural exchanges.
President Duan stated that BLCU will collaborate with Lumbini Buddhist University under the care and support of Prime Minister Oli, using the Nepal China Research Institute as a lead to implement the new directives from the joint statement of the two heads of state. Together, they will advance "Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalese" vision and build a high-level think tank serving the strategic relations between the two countries. With language and culture as dual engines, BLCU will provide national-level counterpart support for Nepal's Chinese education, cultivating more leading and interdisciplinary talent for China-Nepal construction, and spearheading a new journey in China-Nepal educational cooperation.
The establishment of the Nepal China Research Institute will deeply promote broad cooperation between China and Nepal in multiple fields, particularly in philosophy research, ancient history and civilization, and Chinese education development. As a physical entity, the institute is jointly invested and constructed by BLCU and Lumbini Buddhist University, with both sides committing full institutional resources and integrating strengths to ensure a high starting point for development. At the same time, the institute adopts a co-construction council mechanism, facilitating joint decision-making and collaborative management to drive interdisciplinary research and sustained momentum.
The institute is positioned with a core focus on collaborative research and providing forward-looking think tank recommendations. By conducting research on contemporary China, it aims to foster high-level mutual trust, friendship, mutual understanding, and strategic cooperation between China and Nepal. Leveraging the institute as a platform, it will promote high-level people-to-people exchanges, youth engagement, and educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Jointly, it will host internationally influential high-end forums, such as the China–Nepal Education Forum, China–Nepal Economic and Trade Forum, China–Nepal Cultural Exchange Forum, World Philosophy Forum, and thematic forums on issues relevant to countries of the Global South. The institute will also advance talent cultivation and cooperative education between China and Nepal, facilitate productive exchanges among students, teachers, and scholars, and conduct collaborative research. In cooperation with the United Nations Headquarters, it will carry out research related to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and education initiatives, further strengthening the cultivation of high-caliber talent.
During the visit, at the invitation of Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, President Duan Peng led a delegation to visit the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. Ambassador Chen Song highly praised BLCU's efforts and responsibilities in mutual learning among civilizations and warmly congratulated the establishment of the Nepal China Research Institute. Ambassador Chen noted that to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between the peoples, Nepal urgently needs talent who deeply understand China, its history, culture, and modern development. The establishment of the China Research Institute is a timely response to this need, aligning with the strategic intent of both leaders to deepen cultural and educational cooperation. In the future, the embassy will fully support the institute's construction and development.
Under Prime Minister Oli's high regard and with strong support from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, BLCU will collaborate closely with Lumbini Buddhist University to provide more intellectual support and cultural links for China-Nepal and South Asia relations, helping regional cooperation reach higher levels and contributing new strength to building a community of shared future for mankind.
(Edited by: Wen Wang, Zhanling Guo)
