Conspicuous Nepali void at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, Aug 10 - Despite the failure to ensure participation of Nepal's President or Prime Minister at the opening session of the 29th Olympics, China is eager to see some top Nepali leaders' presence at the closing ceremony."Chinese officials have expressed hope that top Nepali leaders will attend the closing ... ...said Nepal's Ambassador to China, Tanka Karki.Presence of heads of state or government from more than 80 countries at the opening ceremony midnight Friday is being taken widely here as as a major highlight of the Beijing Olympics. Those who failed to make it on Friday's opening function have accepted invitations for the closing session."I have already conveyed the Chinese government's message to Kathmandu that either the President or the Prime Minister attend the closing session," said Karki. According to Karki, Chinese authorities have assured him of arranging a seat for Nepal's President close to Chinese President Hu Jintao's seat as a symbol of China's goodwill toward Nepal. Karki also said that Chinese officials intend to utilize the Games to fit in bilateral official talks on the sidelines between Hu and his foreign counterparts, besides, of course, a banquet in their honor.Out of the 136 diplomatic missions in Beijing, Nepal's embassy appears the saddest because it failed to ensure the presence of its head of state or government during the current sporting extravaganza. Though not all the 204 countries of the world have sent their heads of state or government to the Beijing Olympics Nepal's case stands out. Nepal has missed an opportunity to be at the front ranks to congratulate its closest northern neighbor one of its most glorious moments, and to demonstrate good wishes for the success of the grand event that China is hosting.From the US and French presidents to the prime ministers from Australia, Japan, Russia- all are here to boost the morale of their sportspersons and to appreciate the great strides that China has made in recent times. From the South Asian region, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have sent high level political figures to witness the Beijing Olympics.

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