PM Dahal ready to roll out red carpet for Putin

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has shown willingness to visit Russia and host Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kathmandu, arguing that this is the right time for high-level visits. 

In an interview with Russian News Agency TASS, PM Dahal said the time was ripe for high-level visits between the two countries. "We hope that (there will be) a high-level visit, which is quite necessary," he noted. Putin can come to Nepal and I can also go to Russia," Dahal said.

If there is a high-level visit, the prime minister added, “things will move in a very positive direction."

Dahal noted that he had had an opportunity to meet with Putin at the 2016 summits of the BRICS group and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Goa. "Unfortunately, we could not have separate discussions with President Putin,” Dahal added. 

Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said Putin’s potential visit to Nepal or Dahal’s arrival in Russia has not been agreed upon as yet.

“No, there are no specific agreements, this will be discussed through diplomatic channels," he said in response to a TASS question. 

According to TASS, Nepal expects Russian cooperation in the implementation of major infrastructure projects, including in the hydropower sector.

“Our priority is mega hydro projects," he said, citing the Karnali Chisapani hydropower project as an example.