Seventy Years of Friendship: The Bright Journey of Nepal–Russia Relations

# Prem Sagar Poudel

From the crown of the Himalayas,
when the white light of peace descends,
within that very light appears
the long road of friendship
between Nepal and Russia.

Seventy years,
not merely a number
written in the book of time,
but a letter of trust,
a fragrance of relations,
a warm radiance of respect
spreading from heart to heart.

On one side,
the glory of Sagarmatha;
on the other,
the deep flow of the Volga.
Two different geographies,
yet one shared feeling:
peace, cooperation and friendship,
held by unwavering faith.

When Nepal dreamed of development,
Russia extended a hand of goodwill.
Along the paths of education, science, technology
and people-to-people relations,
it lit the lamp of cooperation.

How many Nepali students
gathered the letters of knowledge
on Russian soil;
how many dreams
found the direction of the future
on the streets of Moscow;
how many memories
have continued to bring
the peoples of the two countries
closer together.

This relationship
is not the language of pressure,
nor a trade of narrow interest.
It is diplomacy standing on respect,
cooperation blooming in equality,
and a foundation of trust
made stronger by the test of time.

Nepal may be small in geography,
but its soul is vast.
Russia may be vast in geography,
but in the meaning of friendship,
its hand is even greater.

Today, on this seventieth anniversary,
history speaks to us:
do not merely remember friendship,
connect it with the dreams of a new generation;
connect it with education,
with culture,
with science, tourism, energy
and new horizons of cooperation.

The world is changing,
a new balance of power is being born,
yet true friendship
never grows old.
It deepens with time,
matures with experience,
and, with trust,
becomes a guide
for the journey ahead.

Nepal and Russia,
two countries, two civilizations,
yet one melody of friendship,
one desire for peace,
and one shared light of humanity.

May this journey of seventy years
become the foundation
for the next hundred years.
May people-to-people relations
grow ever deeper.
May Nepal–Russia friendship remain
as steadfast as Sagarmatha,
as profound as the Volga,
and as radiant as the morning sun.

Long live Nepal–Russia friendship.
May the journey of peace, cooperation and goodwill continue forever.