BEIJING: The new height of Mount Qomolangma, the world’s highest peak, is 8,848.86m, according to a joint announcement by China and Nepal.
Peak research: A member of the Chinese survey team setting up equipment on the summit of Mount Everest, also known locally as Qomolangma. — APThe figure, including the height of the snowcap, was confirmed by surveyors from the two countries, which reached a consensus last year to jointly declare the remeasured height of the peak and conduct scientific research on it.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, exchanging letters with his Nepali counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari on Tuesday, called Mount Qomolangma “an important symbol of the China-Nepal traditional friendship”.For more than a year, the two countries’ survey teams had overcome many difficulties, solidly carried out their work and finally reached a conclusion on the snow height based on the International Height Reference System, he said.
A Chinese survey team reached the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 27 and remeasured the peak height. They remained at the summit for two and a half hours, a new record for Chinese climbers.
Nepali surveyors reached the top of the mountain in May 2019.
The joint announcement of the new peak height is of great significance in carrying forward the undertakings of predecessors to the future and showcasing the continuous development of China-Nepal relations, Xi noted.
Khim Lal Gautam, who had scaled Mount Qomolangma in May 2019 for the Nepali measurement, said he was extremely happy to see the two countries endorsing the new height together.
“The technical teams from both sides sat together sharing their data and information before reaching a conclusion, ” he said. “This is an example of technical collaboration between the two countries.”
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. — Xinhua
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