Meeting with Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I am delighted to see you and have this opportunity to talk with you and discuss both current matters and bilateral issues on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

I believe we established diplomatic relations in 1956, and next year we will be marking an anniversary. Even today, we can sum up some outcomes of our cooperation. I would like to note that we have never had any problems. Moreover, our positions on key issues on the international agenda are either very close or fully align, as diplomats usually say. We can also think about ways to expand and deepen our interaction in the most important areas.

I am very glad to see you, Mr Prime Minister.

Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli: Your Excellency, thank you very much for managing to find time - although it is midnight - to meet with me and to provide me this opportunity. I am very glad to get this opportunity to meet with you, Your Excellency.

We are all friends, of course. Between our two countries, diplomatic relations were established in 1956, and since then, our bilateral relations have always been very good. I don't know the reason but our two nations' friendly ties are a little bit weak right now. Before, I think, they were very strong, with frequent coming and going, but so far I know no Russian president or top leader who visited Nepal until now, though people from Nepal have visited [Russia]. When I was prime minister, I was in Russia in 1999 and 2000. I got the opportunity to understand and see the landscapes, geography, and historical places like Moscow and St Petersburg. They really are special. I also got the opportunity to go to neighbouring countries, like Belarus and Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I will take advantage of your idea, and we will certainly consider visiting your country, Nepal. Meanwhile, we will always be glad to welcome you in Russia, at any time convenient for you.

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli: When I visited Russia in 1999, I knew that more than 5,000 students were getting good education in Russia, in different universities, in particular at the People's Friendship University, where many students got the opportunity to study there in Russia. Even now there are so many doctors in Nepal who are treating people, who were educated in Russia.

Vladimir Putin: You know, whenever people study in another country, including Russia, they leave it with very good impressions and warm memories. In this case, with memories of Russia. These people then become a natural link between Russia and their homeland, I mean Nepal.

Considering humanitarian cooperation, we attach great importance to continuing contacts in education and culture. We will be glad to further develop this area of our cooperation. You mentioned that young Nepalese are showing an increasing interest in education in Russia in different areas. Of course, we will meet you halfway in identifying the most promising areas of study. We can also consider other spheres of humanitarian cooperation. I am sure the Russian public would be very interested, for example, in an exhibition of Nepalese sculpture. Let us consider this possibility as well.

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