Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari welcomed him at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport.[break]
During a press conference held at TIA, the Prime Minister said his visit was successful and helped in further strengthening Nepal-Russia relations.
The Tiger Conference was historic for the conservation of tiger through integrated efforts, he said, adding that Russian Vladimir Putin told him that he would visit Nepal in an opportune time in response to an invitation.
Commenting on present politics, he expressed hope that the ongoing plenum of the Unified CPN (Maoist) will make further commitment to the present peace process and constitution drafting. "I am hopeful that they (Maoists) would not backtrack from the path of peace."
Asked when the parliament´s winter session will start, he said that parties will decide on this after the Maoist plenum.
PM´s Russia visit ´successful´
KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal returned to Kathmandu Thursday after attending the Summit Meeting of the Tiger Range Countries held at St. Petersburg of Russia from 23-24 November at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Earlier yesterday, Nepalese Ambassador to Russia Surya Kiran Gurung and other senior officials of the Russian Department of Protocol bade farewell to him at Moscow airport yesterday.
On the same day, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at St. Petersburg where the two leaders expressed satisfaction over bilateral relations between Nepal and Russia.
They also discussed ways to further promote Nepal-Russia cooperation, including the possibilities of Russian investment in the development of hydropower and tourism sectors in Nepal. The duo stressed for resuming direct air connectivity between the capitals of the two countries. Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara, Ambassador Gurung and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
In the course of the Summit Meeting, Prime Minister Nepal met with his counterparts from Bangladesh, China and Laos separately on the sidelines of the Global Tiger Forum and exchanged views on matters of common and bilateral interests.
Addressing the Summit Meeting of the first International Tiger Forum of Heads of Governments hosted by Russia jointly with the World Bank and the World Wildlife Fund on Nov. 23, the Prime Minister highlighted the important steps Nepal has taken for the conservation of tiger in particular and flora and fauna in general.
He said the Government of Nepal is implementing a five-year Tiger Conservation Action Plan in collaboration with neighbouring countries to strengthen trans-boundary efforts and is also working towards establishing a Sough Asian Wildlife Enforcement Network.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit of Prime Minister Nepal, the first at the level of the Head of Government from Nepal in over two decades, is believed to have made important contributions towards further strengthening Nepal-Russia relations as well as the global efforts for the conservation of tiger.
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