French Ambassador Hosts Farewell Bastille Day Reception in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The French Embassy in Kathmandu hosted a grand reception on Tuesday, July 14, to celebrate Bastille Day 2026, marking the National Day of France. The event held a deeply personal significance as it served as the final national day celebration for the outgoing French Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Virginie Corteval, before the conclusion of her tenure.

The Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, attended the reception as the Chief Guest. On behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, Minister Khanal extended his warm congratulations and best wishes to the Government and the people of France.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Corteval reflected emotionally on her deep-rooted connection with the host nation, noting that she first visited Nepal in the 1990s. “Since then, this country has held a place in my heart,” she shared. “As I complete my tenure and return home, I carry a piece of Nepal with me.”

The Ambassador expressed her gratitude to the Government of Nepal for its seamless cooperation and support throughout her diplomatic assignment, while also thanking her many Nepali friends for their enduring warmth and generosity.

Ambassador Corteval extended a special note of appreciation to her team—including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alliance Française Kathmandu, and the International French School (EFIK)—calling them the true pillars of Nepal-France relations whose dedication made the structural milestones of her tenure possible.

The event concluded on a celebratory note of enduring bilateral friendship, with the Ambassador bidding a warm, final “à bientôt” to Kathmandu.