Nepal and Russia Mark 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations, Emphasise Broader Cooperation

Dragon Media News Desk

Nepal and the Russian Federation have marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both countries commemorated seven decades of ties founded on friendship, mutual respect and broadly aligned views on major international issues.

Nepal and the former Soviet Union established diplomatic relations on July 20, 1956. Three years later, the Soviet diplomatic mission opened in Kathmandu in October 1959, while the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow began operations in July 1961.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Nepal was among the first countries to recognise the Russian Federation as its successor state in 1991. Since then, bilateral relations have continued on the foundations of friendship, continuity and mutual cooperation.

In a message issued on the 70th anniversary, the Russian side noted that relations with Nepal have never faced serious or systemic problems. It said the two countries hold close or identical positions on several key issues on the international agenda and expressed confidence that cooperation in important sectors could be further expanded and deepened.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also spoken positively about relations with Nepal, saying that there have never been any significant problems between the two countries.

“Our positions on key issues on the international agenda are either very close or coincide,” Putin said, adding that the two sides could consider ways to expand and deepen cooperation in major areas.

The Russian Embassy described the anniversary as a shared celebration and extended congratulations to Russian compatriots and Nepali friends.

Nepal–Russia relations are rooted in a long history of cooperation in education, science, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Soviet-era assistance to Nepal’s development projects and technical human-resource formation remains an important foundation of the friendship between the two countries.

The 70th anniversary is being viewed not only as an occasion to honour past achievements, but also as an opportunity to advance new cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, tourism, technology, education and cultural exchange.