The French Embassy in Kathmandu has appointed Purnima Shrestha as a goodwill ambassador to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the historic first ascent of Mount Annapurna.

This milestone, achieved on June 3, 1950, by French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal aided by the Franco-Nepali expedition team, will be commemorated on June 3, the embassy said in a statement.

“As a mountaineer and photojournalist, Shrestha has a deep connection to the mountains and their stories and along with her experiences in high-altitude climbing, she incarnates the role of the goodwill ambassador,” reads the statement.

The first successful ascent of Annapurna was a significant moment in mountaineering history and an important chapter in the long-standing friendship between Nepal and France, the embassy said.

To mark the occasion, the French Embassy will organise talks, exhibitions, and discussions highlighting the impact of this achievement as well as the issues related to mountains.