Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of a meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Gyawali said that Russia and Nepal will launch a military cooperation agreement. The objectives include the increase in helicopter exports to Kathmandu.

Lavrov said: "Our military and technical collaboration has good prospects. Russian aircraft, such as the previously supplied Mi-17 helicopters, have proven to be efficient during the operations carried out in the difficult high mountain conditions of Nepal".

The Mil Mi-17 (codename Nato "Hip") is a Russian rotary wing machine produced in two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. It is a double medium turbine transport helicopter.