KATHMANDU, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai warmly congratulates Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University (CIKU) for its 5th anniversary, saying that "the institute has been tremendously contributing in promoting cultural relations between our two ancient civilizations."

In a congratulatory message dated today, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai says, "Nepal and China enjoy cordial relations since history and such activities would further strengthen people-to-people level relation between the two countries."

Co-established by Kathmandu University and China's Hebei University of Economics & Business on June 13, 2007, this institute has seen more than 4,000 Nepali students at different levels benefiting from various courses during the past five years.

In the letter's last paragraph which is his own handwriting, the prime minister thanks Chinese government for both establishing such a good platform and providing "generous support for its operation."