KATHMANDU: French Ambassador to Nepal, Francois-Xavier Leger has expressed his solidarity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal.

“We know very well what a country goes through when the Covid-19 hits its peak,” he said in a message on the occasion of the National Day of France on July 14, which is popularly known as Bastille Day.

He added, “I would like to pay tribute, recognize and honor all those who have fought this virus and are risking their lives on a day-to-day basis here in Nepal and everywhere else.”

He also expressed condolences on the tragic loss of human lives due to Covid-19 and floods/landslides in recent days in the country.

“We hope that the families of those affected would be able to overcome this tragedy,” he said while expressing France’s solidarity with Nepal during these tough times.

In his message, France, like Nepal, too, has moved ahead on economic, ecological and social reconstruction by announcing economic measures to support their businesses and jobs, and social recovery through massive investment in youth, education, training, employment and health care system.

French Embassy in Nepal celebrated this year’s National Day virtually with the messages from Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Ambassador François-Xavier Léger.

A photo-book, published on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-France relationship (1949-2019), retracing the Nepal-France history is also made available for download.

This year 2020 is the 70th anniversary of the successful ascent of Mount Annapurna by the French expedition team led by Maurice Herzog in June 1950, a statement issued by the Embassy here said.