Swiss embassy in Kathmandu unveils photobook marking 70 years of Swiss-Nepal friendship

KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal on Wednesday unveiled a commemorative photobook, 'Bridging Nations – 70 Years of Swiss–Nepal Friendship', marking seven decades of diplomatic and development cooperation between the two countries.

The photobook was presented at an event attended by former ambassadors, government officials and representatives of various organisations. The Embassy said the publication compiles a visual and historical record of the decades-long trail bridge programme and aims to inspire continued collaboration on development challenges and to offer lessons for policymakers and practitioners worldwide.

Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Danielle Meuwly said the photobook celebrates a partnership that has changed lives across the country. “What fills us with the greatest sense of fulfilment is not the number itself; it is the lives changed. This success was built not for Nepal, but with Nepal, through the leadership of its government, the dedication of communities, and the expertise of local engineers, which was the driving force,” she said.

Former finance minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal, who attended the event as chief guest, reflected on the shared geographic challenges and technical collaboration between the two mountain nations. “Nepal and Switzerland worked shoulder-to-shoulder to build bridges, which might not seem like grand infrastructure or monuments, but precise and functional bridges that last for decades using Swiss technical expertise,” Khanal said. He also highlighted Swiss investment in businesses, people, travel and community movements that have strengthened local capacities.

The Swiss Embassy noted that the long-running trail bridge programme has dramatically expanded connectivity in Nepal. From just 29 bridges in the programme’s early years, the network grew to more than 10,000 bridges by 2023, linking remote communities to markets, schools and health services.

Ambassador Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia and Pacific Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, said the cooperation demonstrates the power of international solidarity. “This cooperation reflects the power of international solidarity, connecting not just landscapes, but people and nations. Nepal and Switzerland demonstrate how partnerships across continents can solve real, local challenges,” he said. He added that Nepal’s trail bridge programme is widely regarded as a model of effective international cooperation, delivering measurable benefits to millions.