Ambassadors from various countries in Nepal have taken part in a walking tour in Dakshinkali Municipality-3 today, praising Nepal's clean air and healthy lifestyle. On the occasion of the first International Health Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took them on a 'health walk' along the Hattivan-Champadevi trekking route.  

During the walk, ambassadors in Kathmandu, other members of the diplomatic community and high-ranking government officials expressed their commitment to supporting the health and healthy lifestyle that Nepal is trying to promote globally. 

The participating diplomats were gathered at the Hattivan Resort in the morning and were briefed on yoga and meditation based on Eastern philosophy. They were trained by life science instructor Pratik Sharma on some methods of asana, pranayama and meditation. 

Then, all the participating diplomats were taken on a two-hour hike from the Hattivan Resort area to Champadevi. Welcoming the diplomat, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai mentioned that the United Nations has decided to celebrate April 15 every year as International Health Day on Nepal's proposal. 

In addition, he said that the Nepal government has a policy to develop Nepal as the world's best 'health tourism destination'. Informing that the government has prepared a health tourism strategy to promote Nepal's tourism, he informed that the government is preparing to celebrate the upcoming year 2027 as the Nepali Health Tourism Year and to attract the necessary investment for that. He also said that Nepal will use the network of embassies, diplomatic missions and non-resident Nepalis in various countries of the world.  . 

Finnish Ambassador to Nepal Petri Puhak said that the journey to the natural hills of the valley is not only a simple walk or physical exercise but also provides mental peace. 

Jako du Toit, the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Nepal, responded that he is gaining health benefits while walking in Nepali natural places while listening to Nepali songs. He believed that even though his country South Africa does not have such high mountains as here, natural resources can connect countries. 

Kyoko Yokosuka, the United Nations Development Program Representative for Nepal, said that she was excited by the hiking, yoga and meditation on the Hattivan Champa Devi trekking route with extremely clean air over the weekend. He said that he would convey the message to his fellow countrymen that Nepal is not only a natural and cultural heritage but also a country that must be visited to achieve self-satisfaction through yoga and meditation. 

British Ambassador to Nepal Robert Fenn said that he was happy that Nepal organized such a trek on the occasion of International Health Day. He said that he was impressed by the slogan set for Health Day, which is that long walks keep the respiratory system healthy for a longer period of time. 

Stating that Nepal is already popular in the UK, he said that the British are interested in learning about Nepal and are fascinated by the geographical and cultural diversity of Nepal.   

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, said that Nepal is trying to advance Nepal's 'soft power' diplomacy through health tourism, and said that the importance given by ambassadors of 13 countries to the first International Health Day was diplomatically significant.