Kathmandu, November 10:

Nepali Ambassador to Russia Hiranya Lal Shrestha said today the State Technical University of Moscow conferred on King Gyanendra the Doctor of Literature (Academic Degree of Honorary Doctorate) for his contribution on nation-building and the concept of developing Nepal as a transit route for trade between China and India. Rector of the university Prof Dr Vyacheslav Mikha-ilovich Prikhodko conferred on the King the doctoral degree at a special function held at the Royal Palace this morning. Nepali Ambassador to Russia Hiranya

Lal Shrestha and other Russian delegates were also present during the ceremony. Shrestha said that the King is the eight person to be honoured with such a degree in 75 years of the university’s academic history.

The university is famous for automobile, highway and tunneling engineerings. He said that 108 Nepalis have already graduated at different technical disciplines since Nepal and Russia established diplomatic relations in 1956.