MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. Issues of bilateral relations and prospects for the development of cooperation were the focus of a telephone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the Russian foreign ministry said.

"The sides exchanged views on the current issues on the bilateral agenda and discussed prospects for further cooperation between the two countries," the ministry said, adding that the call was initiated by the Nepalese side.

The Nepalese Himalayan Times newspaper reported earlier that the country’s prime minister had appointed 16 new ministers in the reformed cabinet. According to the Nepalese foreign ministry, Narayan Prakash Saud served as foreign minister until March 5.