The Russian Parliament, Duma, has expressed its firm support for municipal and general elections in Nepal and the Nepal government’s fight against terrorism, an official news agency reported.

The Chairman of the Committee on the International Links of the Russian Parliament, Duma, Kosachev Kanstantin Iosiforich stated this during a meeting with the visiting Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey in Moscow on Monday.

The Chairman of the Committee also assured that the DUMA would take into account Russia’s relations with Nepal while developing strategic planning for the Parliament for the next three years. Minister Pandey thanked the Duma for its continued support for and its interest in relation with Nepal and underlined the need for enhancing Nepal-Russia relations to a new height of fruitful cooperation.

The minister extended an invitation to the Chairman of the Committee Iosiforich to visit Nepal at a mutually convenient time. The invitation was gladly accepted.
Earlier on Monday, Minister Pandey addressed scholars and members of academia at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The Institute, which was established in 1817, serves as a think-tank and is known for internationally reputed research works in the fields of oriental history, culture, religion, literature, language, economy and politics. It conducts international conferences on Asia and Africa inviting experts from different regions. It also serves as a forum for dialogue between different civilisations.

In his address, the royal appointed minister highlighted the role of the institution of monarchy in the unification, modernisation and democratisation of Nepal and in articulating an independent foreign policy “that has not only guaranteed Nepal’s sovereignty and political independence but also earned Nepal a distinct international identity in the comity of nations.” He further said that there exists an inseparable link between the institution of monarchy and the people of Nepal based on cultural traditions and nurtured by profound trust, according to the RSS news report.

The Foreign Minister said that the Kingdom of Nepal attaches importance to its relations with the Russian Federation and expressed view that there exists a real potential for furthering cooperation to our mutual advantage. We need to think imaginatively and work collaboratively to realize cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, the minister said.. He also lauded the involvement of the Russian Federation in a number of regional and global initiatives in what he called building a structure of collective security and multi-polarity, based on complementarities and cooperation. He expressed the belief that a stable and prosperous Russia is in the interest of global peace and stability.

On Sunday, the Foreign Minister attended a welcome reception organized by the Russia-Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Set up in 1995 to promote economic, social and cultural ties between the Kingdom of Nepal and the Russian Federation, the Chamber now focuses primarily on economic and trade issues.

Addressing the reception, Foreign Minister Pandey asked the chamber to work for the expansion of economic and commercial ties between the two countries and for the promotion of Russian investment in productive sectors of the Nepali economy.

He appreciated the role of Nepali nationals living in the Russian Federation in promoting people-to-people contact between the two countries and urged them to work for enhancing Nepal’s image and prestige in the country they live in.

“Monarchial culture in Nepal inspires all patriotic Nepalese to stand together to defend country’s vital national interest,” the minister said. He did not elaborate.

Minister Pandey is to visit Pakistan this week after completing his visit to Russian Federation.