The fourth executive committee led Nepal China Academy from 2017 to 2021, introducing the Chinese language promotion program, launching structured youth engagement initiatives, and steering the institution through the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic.
Language as a Bridge
Dr. Mina Kumari Acharya, a linguist by training and a veteran of two previous committees, understood that meaningful cultural exchange required more than ceremonial programs — it demanded shared language. Her committee’s signature initiative was the Mandarin Language Promotion Program, which organized beginner and intermediate Mandarin classes for Nepali students, professionals, and community members in partnership with Chinese language instructors based in Kathmandu.
Within two years, the program enrolled over 180 learners across four cohorts, with completion rates consistently above seventy percent — a testament to the quality of instruction and the genuine demand for Mandarin proficiency among young Nepalis seeking academic and professional opportunities connected to China.
Committee Roster
- President: Dr. Mina Kumari Acharya
- Vice President: Mr. Bijay Kumar Tamang
- Vice President: Ms. Rekha Shakya
- General Secretary: Mr. Dipak Raj Adhikari
- Secretary: Ms. Sangita K.C.
- Treasurer: Dr. Suresh Lal Karna
- Executive Member: Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha
- Executive Member: Ms. Sunita Maharjan
- Executive Member: Mr. Prakash Thapa
- Executive Member: Ms. Laxmi Dongol
- Executive Member: Mr. Sanjay Basnet
- Executive Member: Prof. Uma Nath Poudel
- Executive Member: Ms. Meena Karki
Youth Engagement and New Generations
Recognizing that the Academy’s future depended on engaging younger generations, the fourth committee launched the Nepal-China Youth Forum — an annual gathering of university students and young professionals from both countries to discuss shared challenges in education, technology, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship. The first forum, held in Kathmandu in 2018, brought together sixty-four participants aged 18 to 30 from twelve universities.
Leading Through Uncertainty
The committee’s final two years coincided with the global pandemic, which forced the cancellation of in-person events and delegation visits. Rather than retreating, the committee pivoted to digital programming — hosting online Mandarin classes, virtual lecture series on Nepal-China relations, and a webinar on post-pandemic economic cooperation that attracted participants from five countries.
The pandemic reminded us that the bonds we had spent years building were not fragile — they were resilient. When we could not cross borders, our friendships crossed screens, and the work continued.
Dr. Mina Kumari Acharya, President, 4th Executive Committee
The fourth committee’s term concluded with a seamless transition to the current executive body, handing over an organization that had weathered a global crisis, expanded its membership to over three hundred individuals, and established the digital infrastructure — website, social media presence, and online event platform — that the Academy continues to build upon today.