Kathmandu, April 11

A 37-member youth delegation from India visited Nepal from April 4 to 11 at the invitation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The Youth Exchange Programme was held in pursuance of the November 2014 memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the two countries.

The delegation comprised students from leading educational institutions of India, including IITs, AIIMS, NIT, National Law School of India University as well as Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

During their week-long stay in Nepal, the youth delegates interacted with National Youth Council of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board and Chamber of Commerce (Youth Wing).

They visited Pashupatinath temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nagarkot and also travelled to Lumbini, Chitwan and Pokhara. In Lumbini, the delegation interacted with the representatives of Lumbini Development Trust. In Pokhara, the delegation interacted with the regional director of Nepal Tourism Development Board, Pokhara.

Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bahadur Sunar hosted the delegation a farewell dinner wherein the students shared their experiences of their stay in Nepal, according to the statement.

The first youth delegation of Nepal, led by the then minister for youth and sports Purushottam Paudel, had visited India in April, 2015.

From the Indian side, the first visit of a youth delegation took place from March 10 to 17, 2017 when a 47-member delegation visited Nepal. In April 2017, the second youth delegation of Nepal comprising 49 delegates and led by the secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports visited India.

The youth delegation concluded their visit on April 11 and found the exchange programme to be a great learning experience which also helped them acknowledge and appreciate the deep bond of friendship between India and Nepal, read the statement.

Before their departure to India, the delegation visited the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, on April 11 and interacted with select students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kathmandu.

At the interaction, the delegates thanked the governments of India and Nepal for their collaborative initiative and stressed on continuing such exchange programmes. They also thanked the Nepalese Ministry of Youth and Sports for its warm hospitality and programme, according to the statement.