Nepali artists perform during the inauguration ceremony for the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu on Tuesday. HARI MAHARJAN/XINHUA

KATHMANDU－The Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, the second in Nepal, was inaugurated on Tuesday in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, with the stakeholders pledging more resources to make it a better platform for cooperation.

Though it was initiated in 2019, the university's institute had a two-year hiatus from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Liu Yueming, the Chinese director of the institute.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony via video link, Nepali Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel noted that the Nepali side has recognized the importance of the Chinese language and listed it as an optional course for students from grade nine to 12 starting this year.

Paudel said the learning of languages and cultures can help elevate the relationship between the two countries. He voiced hope that the Confucius Institute will be helpful for language teaching, cultural exchanges, bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding.

"The Chinese language has become very necessary for Nepal's economic and social development, investment, tourism and higher education," Leela Mani Paudyal, former Nepali ambassador to China, said during the institute's inauguration.

"We believe that China's development is an opportunity for us."

More than 30,000 learners have been registered with the Confucius institutes at Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University, contributing manpower to Nepal's tourism, infrastructure, business and trade sectors in particular, said Hou Yanqi, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal.

Also addressing the inauguration ceremony via video link, Hou voiced hope that the two institutes would become a window for showcasing the Chinese culture, a bridge to promote cultural exchanges and a bond for China-Nepal friendship.

Dharma Kanta Baskota, vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, said the Confucius Institute focuses on high-quality language and cultural projects.

In June 2007, Hebei University of Economics and Business and Kathmandu University jointly established the first Confucius Institute in Nepal. The Chinese university oversees Chinese language and cultural programs for the institute.