Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has called for concerted efforts to harness Nepal's adventure sports potential as a tool for expanding sports diplomacy. During a high-level consultation meeting on adventure sports held on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Deuba urged ministries, departments, and officials associated with the sports sector to provide necessary support to this initiative.

Highlighting Nepal's unique geographical features, Minister Deuba remarked, "Nepal's mountains, hills, rivers, and streams are renowned globally for adventure tourism. By leveraging these resources, we can effectively develop and expand sports diplomacy." She emphasized the role of sports as a medium for promoting Nepal's cultural identity, geography, and natural assets.

Tourism and Sports: A Diplomatic Tool
Defense Minister Manbir Rai, who participated in the meeting, advocated for the formulation of a comprehensive plan to link Nepal's tourism potential with diplomacy through adventure sports. He highlighted that such initiatives could promote tourism diplomacy while fostering international collaboration.

Key Discussions
The meeting saw active participation from Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Youth and Sports, as well as representatives from professional associations in the tourism sector. The discussions focused on the possibilities, needs, and challenges associated with adventure sports in Nepal.

Stakeholders emphasized the importance of strategic planning, infrastructure development, and international partnerships to unlock Nepal's full potential in the adventure sports arena, thereby enhancing its global diplomatic profile.

The consultation underscored the need to integrate sports into Nepal’s broader foreign policy framework, aligning it with cultural promotion and economic development objectives.