The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) met formally with high-level Azerbaijani officials in Kathmandu to explore cooperation in the areas of mountain tourism, mountaineering training, and cultural exchange, marking a substantial diplomatic and tourism-focused engagement. The purpose of the meeting was to explore new prospects and improve bilateral connections between Nepal and Azerbaijan, particularly in the areas of environmental cooperation and high-altitude adventure.
NMA & Azerbaijan to Collaborate
The NMA delegation was led by its President, Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa, who welcomed His Excellency Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues, and also President of the Azerbaijan Mountaineering Federation. His Excellency Elchin Huseynli, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Nepal, was also present during the discussion, highlighting the importance Azerbaijan places on this engagement.
The meeting took place during the visit of His Excellency Mr. Mukhtar to Nepal, who is currently in the country to participate in the prestigious Sagarmatha Sambad, a global dialogue platform addressing climate change and sustainability from the highest point on Earth.
During the meeting, both NMA President Mr. Sherpa and His Excellency Mukhtar exchanged ideas on how the two nations could work together to promote sustainable and safe mountain tourism. President Sherpa emphasized the importance of international cooperation in improving mountaineering standards and training. He proposed garnering Azerbaijan’s support for NMA’s ongoing and upcoming training initiatives and specifically requested assistance for the promotion of the International Mountain Museum (IMM), situated at Rato Pairo in Pokhara.
“The International Mountain Museum is a key project that represents the history and evolution of Nepal’s mountaineering and mountain tourism sector. It serves as an educational and cultural hub that connects Nepal’s rich mountain heritage with the global climbing community,” stated Mr. Sherpa.
In addition, Mr. Sherpa shared that the NMA is currently in the final phase of establishing a state-of-the-art training institute. This center is set to become the national hub for all mountaineering-related training in Nepal and will be aligned with international standards to ensure safe, responsible, and skill-based climbing practices.
“For safe and responsible climbing activities, we aim to produce highly skilled human resources by organizing standard training programs. To manage these programs exclusively and efficiently, we are in the final stage of setting up our own training institute,” Mr. Sherpa said. “Likewise, the IMM holds distinct importance in Nepal’s tourism, and we seek strong support from our international allies for both initiatives.”
His Excellency Mukhtar warmly welcomed the proposal and assured the NMA team that Azerbaijan is interested in supporting such efforts. He recognized Nepal’s unique global position in mountaineering and expressed a shared vision for international cooperation in addressing the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems. He further proposed organizing a joint mountaineering expedition to a Nepali peak in the future, symbolizing the diplomatic friendship and marking the milestone of 30 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Azerbaijan.
Nepal and Azerbaijan officially established diplomatic relations on February 28, 1995, and this year marked the 30th anniversary of those ties. Both sides agreed that such cultural and sporting collaborations would further deepen the bilateral bond.
The meeting was attended by several high-level members of the NMA, including Senior Vice President Mr. Thakur Raj Pandey, General Secretary Mr. Mohan Lamsal, Advisor Dr. Ganesh Gurung, former advisor and Bagmati Province Parliament member Hon. Yangkila Sherpa, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Jinesh Sindurakar, and Communication Officer Mr. Dipendra Gurung. Their presence emphasized the importance of this diplomatic engagement and the unified support from NMA’s leadership for international partnerships.
This meeting reflects the increasing importance of global cooperation in mountaineering, not only in terms of adventure and tourism but also in response to the shared challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. Both Nepal and Azerbaijan are mountainous countries with deep-rooted traditions in high-altitude exploration. The mutual desire to work together offers promising opportunities for joint training programs, cultural exchanges, and sustainable development.
As Nepal prepares for future mountaineering seasons and strives to set global benchmarks in mountain tourism safety and training, partnerships like these are expected to play a critical role in enhancing the country’s reputation as a leading mountaineering destination.
