Kathmandu, July 21 — Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shisir Khanal, received Mr. Scott Urbom, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i, and Mr. Mike Harker, Public Affairs Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, during a courtesy meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Minister Khanal congratulated Mr. Harker on his successful ascent of Mount Everest and praised his historic achievement as the first U.S. diplomat to summit the world’s highest peak.
Commending Mr. Harker’s contribution to promoting Nepal’s adventure tourism, the Foreign Minister encouraged him to continue advocating for Nepal as a premier destination for adventure, mountaineering, and nature tourism across the United States and the international community.
Mr. Harker successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 20, 2026, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic and mountaineering history. His accomplishment has been widely recognized as a testament to the enduring friendship between Nepal and the United States while highlighting Nepal’s global reputation as the home of the world’s highest mountains and a leading destination for adventure tourism.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong partnership between Nepal and the United States and to discuss continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including tourism promotion and people-to-people ties.
