Himalyan News Service

Kathmandu, March 5:

Tek Bahadur Dangi, executive director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) today inaugurated the pre-congress meeting of the fourth Asian Congress of Esperanto today. The congress was to be held today but the Commission of Asian Esperanto Movement, the international organiser, suspended it till August 25. Organisers said they expect around 200 participants from different Asian countries, and Europe also. The five-day meeting was attended by 23 Esperantists from 15 countries and around 80 from Nepal. Seven were from Poland, five from Iceland, four from Germany, two from USA, two from Japan and one each from Australia, Switzerland and China.

Dangi urged all participants to disseminate Nepal’s real situation in their respective countries and help promote Nepal’s tourism industry. Shree Prasad Shrestha, coordinator of the Asian Congress, said Nepal would have been happier to host the congress in time but it had to be deferred due to circumstances. Franciska Reisel, an Esperantist from Germany, assisting the local Esperanto movement, said the success of the movement in Nepal will bring Nepali youth to the fore of the Esperanto world-wide movement. She, including others, also donated learning materials to Nepal’s Espernato Association.