KATHMANDU, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nepal sent to Qatar the first batch of fresh vegetables produced under a promotion program supported by a Chinese foundation on Thursday evening.
A refrigerated truck carrying the packaged vegetables appeared for an export ceremony held in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, and they were flown to Qatar by a Himalaya Airlines flight.
Fresh vegetables including green chilis, flat beans and bitter gourds are produced in Dakshinkali municipality of Kathmandu district under an agriculture promotion program supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD).
According to Zou Zhiqiang, director of CFRD's Nepal office, some 30 tons of fresh vegetables are scheduled for export to Qatar in one month.
"Today's event not only encourages the farmers of Dakshinkali municipality, but also inspires farmers across the country," Mohan Basnet, mayor of Dakshinkali, said at the export ceremony.
Addressing the export ceremony, Qatar's Ambassador to Nepal Mishal bin Mohammed Ali Al Ansari noted that Nepal's organic fruits and vegetables have long been part of Qatar's market and Qatar is ready to strengthen and expand bilateral relations in the field of agriculture and food security.
The agriculture promotion program has helped farmers in Dakshinkali to export fresh vegetables to Qatar, and China is willing to provide support for Nepal's agricultural development and economic prosperity, noted Wang Xin, charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy in Nepal.■
