The Diplomat
The Nepalese Embassy in Madrid celebrated the 55th anniversary of its bilateral relations with Spain last Saturday with an event at the Zarzuela Hippodrome, which included a horse race, a Spanish-Nepali concert and a cocktail party with food and drinks from the Asian country.
Some 3,000 people attended the event, “which marks a milestone”, according to the Embassy in a press release. The information underlines the “outstanding institutional presence (ministers and ambassadors), together with representatives from the world of business, society and culture”. The event was attended, among other authorities, by the Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Javier Salido.
Ambassador Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal expressed her desire to “take this opportunity to deepen our ties and explore new avenues of cooperation, fostering a future of shared prosperity and understanding” between Nepal and Spain.
Among the activities was a race in which eight horses named after the highest mountains in the Himalayas competed for the victory, which finally went to Annapurna.
Afterwards, the evening continued with a cocktail party with Nepalese food and drinks, a concert by a Spanish and a Nepalese artist, a live DJ and finally a speech of thanks, all backed by a 30-piece orchestra.
Since her arrival at the Embassy in Spain in August 2022, Ambassador Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal has distinguished herself by organising different events to make Nepal’s presence in Spain visible and promote its culture and gastronomy, as well as promoting contact between the communities of both countries.
In this line, the organisation, for the first time, of a diplomatic reception open to the public at the Zarzuela Racecourse “is a step forward in changing the perception of Nepal in Spain, presenting itself as an open nation with many possibilities to offer abroad,” said the ambassador during her speech to the attendees.
Nepal and Spain have had diplomatic relations since 13 May 1968, but it was only on 20 February 2017 that the Nepalese Government decided to open a resident Embassy in Madrid. Every year, Nepal receives around 20,000 Spanish tourists, while 6,000 Nepalis live in Spain.
