Kathmandu, Oct. 23 -- For the first time since Mount Everest was recognised as the highest peak in the world, Nepal has been working diligently for two years to measure the height of the mountain. But now that the process is almost complete, China will join in announcing the height of Everest, much to the surprise of officials at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management and the Survey Department.

During the recent state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Nepal and China agreed to recognise that "Mount Sagarmatha/Zhumulangma is an eternal symbol of the friendship between Nepal and China" and that they would "jointly announce the height of Mount Sagarmatha/Zhumulangma and conduct scientific researches", according to the joint stateme...