Kathmandu/New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is visiting Kathmandu, called on Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today and formally handed over an invitation for his India visit.
During the meeting with Oli at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar, Misri handed him the invitation letter on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
“During the courtesy meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri handed over an invitation letter from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Oli. Prime Minister Oli thanked him for the invitation,” the PM’s Secretariat told Nepalkhabar.
The Indian side has proposed September 16-17 for Oli’s India visit. However, the dates for the visit have not yet been finalised.
Misri arrived on a two-day official visit to Nepal in the morning at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai.
He paid courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba.
Misri called on President Ramchandra Paudel at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas, today.
On the occasion, Paudel said Nepal has benefitted from India’s progress as a close neighbour and friend, and expressed hope for greater benefits in the future.
“As a rising international power, India’s progress in socio-economic and technological fields has made us happy and encouraged. As a close friend and neighbour, Nepal has benefitted from India’s achievements and seeks to gain more,” Paudel’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted him as saying.
Highlighting the longstanding social, cultural, religious, spiritual, economic, and people-to-people ties between the two nations, President Paudel said Nepal-India relations are based on sovereign equality, friendly cooperation, mutual respect and trust. He added that Nepal has always placed high priority on its relations with India and appreciates India’s “Neighborhood First” policy.
According to the President’s Press Advisor, Misri said under PM Modi’s policy of prioritising neighbouring countries, Nepal holds an important place. Misri also expressed confidence that his visit would provide an opportunity to discuss enhancing connectivity for mutual progress and development in the modern era, thereby further strengthening bilateral relations.
Misri also paid a courtesy call on CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s personal residence in Lalitpur, according to Dahal’s secretariat.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on various dimensions of Nepal-India relations.
FS Misri and his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai held a bilateral meeting this evening.
During the meeting, the two secretaries discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation ranging from connectivity to trade, and development collaboration to bilateral partnership, reinforcing the robust bond between the two countries.
“The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including connectivity, trade and development cooperation, underscoring the strong bond between the two nations,” the Nepalese Foreign Ministry said.
Earlier after his arrival in the morning, Misri performed a special puja at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.
Misri will return home on Monday, wrapping up his two-day visit to Nepal.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal said in posts on X: “Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri called on the Rt. Hon’ble President of Nepal Mr. Ramchandra Paudel @RcPaudelNepal and conveyed greetings of the Indian leadership, apart from briefing Hon’ble President on the progress in bilateral ties.”
“Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri called on the Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli @kpsharmaoli.
“FS reaffirmed the deep civilizational ties and strong India-Nepal partnership, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation across various sectors.”
