Nepal-Russia Relations

Bilateral Relations

Nepal and the Russian Federation (then Soviet Union) established diplomatic relations on July 20, 1956.

Soon after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Government of Nepal extended full and formal diplomatic recognition to the Russian Federation as a sovereign and independent state on December 28, 1991.

Nepal and Russia enjoy excellent relations marked by friendship, cordiality, mutual respect and cooperation. Russia had promptly welcomed the promulgation of Constitution of Nepal in 2015 and had expressed its readiness for further cooperation with Nepal.

Exchange of Visits

Nepal-Russia relations have been nurtured and cemented by the exchange of high-level visits. Such visits include the visit of the heads of the States and Government and other high-level dignitaries. Some major high-level visits are listed below:

From Nepal side

1. Chairman of the National Assembly Mr. Ganesh Prasad Timilsina paid an official visit to the Russian Federation on 19-24 April 2023 at the invitation of the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, H.E. Ms. Valentina Matvienko.
2. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali paid an official visit to the Russian Federation in November 2019 and held delegation-level talks with H.E. Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, on 25 November.
3. Chief Justice Mr. Cholendra Shumsher JBR visited Russia on 13-18 May 2019 to participate in “Constitution Identity and Universal Values: the Art of Balance”.

• iv. Speaker Mrs. Onasari Gharti paid an official visit to the Russian Federation on 21-25 November 2016 at the invitation of Mrs. Valentina Myatviyenko, President of the Federation Council (Upper House).

5. Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal paid an official visit to Russia in October 2010 in connection with his participation in the World Tiger Summit held in St. Petersburg.
6. King Birendra paid a state visit to the USSR in 1976
7. King Mahendra paid a state visit to the Soviet Union in 1958.

From Russian side

1. Supreme Court Chairman of the Russian Federation Mr. Vayacheslav M. Lebedev paid an official visit to Nepal from 22 to 25 July 2019.
2. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mr. Georgi F. Kunadze paid an official visit to Nepal from Dec 24 to 26, 1992.
3. Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR in charge of the South Asia Mr. Igor Alekseevich Rogachyv visited Nepal on May 28 - 29, 1987.
4. Secretary General of the USSR Mr. Yuri Fokin visited Nepal in August 1987.
5. First Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Yuri Dmitrevich Severin visited Nepal in 1996 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Nepal and the USSR.
6. The First Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mr. V.V. Kuznetsov visited Nepal in December 1981.
7. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Marshal Kliment Voroshilov paid a state visit to Nepal in 1960.

Bilateral Consultation Mechanism Meeting

With the objective of holding regular consultations and exchanging views on bilateral, regional and international affairs, the Protocol on Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was concluded in 1995. The first meeting of this mechanism was held at the level of Foreign Secretary in Moscow in 2007. The Second Meeting was held in Kathmandu on 17 April 2018.

Parliamentary Friendship Group:

The Federal Parliament of Nepal has formed a Nepal-Russia parliamentary friendship group in December 2024. Similarly, Russia has formed a cooperation group of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

List of some Agreements concluded with Russia

1. Agreement on the Abolition of Visa requirements for the Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports was signed in 2002.
2. Agreement on Cooperation between the National Judicial Academy of Nepal and Russian Academy of Justice was signed on October 18, 2015.
3. Agreement on Cooperation between the FNCCI, Nepal and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation was signed on July 25, 2011.
4. Agreement on cooperation between the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation (RUI) was signed on July 21, 2011.
5. Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Nepal on Settlement of Mutual Financial Obligations and Claims on Operations was concluded on February 24, 2015.
6. Inter-parliamentary Cooperation between the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament of Nepal and Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia on 20, April 2023.

Trade

Nepal's exports to the Russian Federation include tea, plants and part of plants, incense sticks, raw hides and skins, tea, handmade paper, carpets and other textile floor covering, W&G cotton dresses, table linen, hats and other headgear, percussion musical instruments, work of art, etc. Nepal's import from the Russian Federation consists of food items, mineral oils and lubricating oils, medicine, diagnostic kits, chemicals, articles of plastics, paper and paper board, readymade garments, industrial raw material, aircraft, spacecraft and thereof.

The following table exhibits bilateral trade between Nepal and Russia (in USD ‘000)

Investment

As of FY 2022/23, Rs. 744.34 million FDI has been received from the Russia which is invested in 43 different companies and they have generated 1489 jobs, according to Department of Industry.

Russia’s FDI Stock in Nepal as of mid-July 2022:

(Rs. Million)

(Source: NRB)

Tourism

Arrival of tourists in Nepal from Russia of the last few years is as follows:

                                                          (Department of Immigration, Nepal)

It is estimated that there are more than 200 Nepali nationals are engaged in foreign employment in Moscow.

Economic Cooperation

The Economic and technical cooperation between the two countries started since 1959. The USSR provided assistance to Nepal for the setting up of the following projects:

• Kanti Hospital
• Panauti Hydro electric power station
• Pathalaiya-Dhalkebar Highway
• Janakpur cigarette factory
• Agricultural Tools factory
• Birgunj Sugar Mill
• Rosin and Turpentine Plant in western Nepal.

Russian Federation has extended valuable support to Nepal in the field of infrastructure development as well as producing a large number of technical manpower from the Soviet Union time.

Education Cooperation

Around 40-50 Nepali students are offered educational scholarships in various fields including medicine, tourism, business, civil engineering, and law every year.

Russia is providing few training and other skill enhancement programs to Nepalese government officials as well.

Europe and the Americas Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As of January 2025