Kathmandu/New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for an official visit to Nepal.
PM Oli extended the invitation through Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who called on him at the Singha Durbar on Sunday.
Secretary Misri’s visit marks the first high-level interaction between the two nations since KP Sharma Oli’s recent appointment as Prime Minister of Nepal.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is on a two-day Nepal visit, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Paudel on Monday.
During the meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance, the two discussed economic and development assistance, progress of ongoing projects, mutual relations between the two countries and other issues.
Misri also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, during which the two sides discussed various issues, including problems related to cross-border movement at the Nepal-India border.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Singh’s Secretariat, potential areas for cooperation between Nepal and India were also discussed.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Singh thanked India for its assistance in infrastructure development, post-earthquake reconstruction, and Covid-19 response in Nepal, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Foreign Secretary Misri expressed India’s commitment to continuously support Nepal’s peace, stability, and prosperity.
Indian Foreign Secretary Misri arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday on a two-day visit at an invitation of his Nepali counterpart Sewa Lamsal.
He had a hectic first day in Kathmandu. He paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
After an introductory meeting with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba on Monday, Misri will return to India.
During the courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel on Sunday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sheetal Niwas, a number of topics related to bilateral relations and mutual interest were discussed.
President Paudel stated that Nepal and India have to cooperate to minimise the effects of climate change.
“Both countries must work together to reduce the effects of climate change since the safety of mankind depends on the safety of mountains and water,” Kiran Pokharel, the President’s press adviser, told the Post.
President Paudel also said that Nepal and India have had a relationship from the time immemorial and acknowledged India’s big contribution to Nepal’s development.
On the occasion, Indian Foreign Secretary Misri expressed commitment to working together with Nepal as the issue of reducing the impact of climate change is a challenge for both the countries, Pokharel said.
Quoting Misri, Pokharel further said, “Among the plans of the Nepal government, India would like to work on Nepal’s priorities such as energy, agriculture and tourism.”
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri performed a special puja at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Monday.
