Kathmandu, July 26, 2006

The seven monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley, which make the valley a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will no more figure in the infamous list of “ World Heritage in Danger”, next year.

The Malla-period palaces of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur; temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan as well as the stupas of Swayambhu and Boudha were put in the Monuments in Danger list in July 2003 by the World Heritage Committee(WHC), an affiliate of UNESCO.

It wanted “corrective measures should continue (in the sites) to address the illegal activities in the area”.

The 30th annual session of the WHC held recently in Vilnius of Lithuania, has appreciated the conservation work going on in the monument zones and decided “it will consider removal of the site (the Kathmandu Valley) from the In Danger List at its next session in June/July 2007”.

A recent statement by UNESCO says that the participatory approach and the high level of commitment and motivation of all stakeholders in conserving those sites were appreciated by the committee. “It is a historic achievement for the country.

Removing the Kathmandu Valley from the list has been our major agenda.

And we were also working hard to make it a success but we did not expect it to happen so soon,” said Kosh Prasad Acharya, director-general of Department of Archaeology, who represented Nepal in Vilnius, today.

Chinese trade fair to become annual event

A four day long China Trade Fair 2006 is being organised from September 7 to 10 this year in Kathmandu with a view to promote Chinese products as well as attract investment to Nepal.

The second edition of CTF-2006 is being jointly organised by Nepal China Executive Council (NCEC) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Machinery Sub-Council, while Nepal Foreign Trade Association is the co-organiser of the event.

“Chinese participants and exhibitors were overwhelmed with the huge success of the first CTF 2005, and we decided to make it an annual event,” said Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, president of NCEC.

More Chinese participants and entrepreneurs are expected to take part in the event this year.

He informed that the branded Chinese products would be showcased as well as exhibitors will have the opportunity to explore Nepali and South Asian markets and make contacts with potential business partners.

“We plan to set up a separate lobby for potential investors, where both Nepali and Chinese entrepreneurs can interact and explore new investment avenues,” Bhattarai added.

According to event coordinator CN Upadhaya, about 120 exhibitors will showcase their products, services and consultancies at the event.