KATHMANDU: France has conferred the honorary distinction, ‘Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite,’ knight of the national order of Merit, on Pratima Pande, honorary consul of Italy to Nepal.
Ambassador of France to Nepal, François-Xavier Leger, conferred upon Pande the French honor.
The Ambassador said this honor was conferred in recognition to Pande’s many years of selfless service to the Government of France.
According to a press statement, Embassy of France in Kathmandu said Pande has a long relationship with France and especially through the Alliance Française, the French culture center.
Pande has been a member of the board between 2001 and 2007. She has also served as the Vice President between 2007 and 2011, and the President between 2011 and 2017.
Pande is also the founder member of Nepal France Friendship Society (NFFS) which was established in 2017 with the aim of enhancing cooperation between Nepal and France at the initiative of Binod Khakurel, chairman of NFFS who has been residing in Paris for past 23 years.
The organization was set up with the objective of exploring cooperation opportunities between Nepal and France as well as supporting and connecting culture, people and art and literature of the two countries.
The honor Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merits) was instituted by General Charles de Gaulle in 1963. The honor is awarded for distinguished services rendered in civil, public, military posts, or a private profession.
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