Indian External Affairs Minister Swaraj returns to New Delhi

KATHMANDU: External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj returned to New Delhi on Thursday afternoon, after attending the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction.

Speaking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport before boarding the flight, the Indian Minister expressed her hope that the Indian assistance will help the quickest possible recovery and reconstruction efforts in Nepal.

At the conference, on behalf of the Indian government, Swaraj had pledged to provide additional Rs 100 billion support to Nepal's reconstruction.

"India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal, our closest neighbour with whom we have the most ancient ties," her departure statement read.

Mentioning that the Indian government pledged the USD 1 billion (Rs 100 billion) for Nepal’s reconstruction over the next 5 years, she made it clear that this amount was in addition to ongoing grants and credits amounting to over USD 1 billion for the next five years.

"We expect that these amounts will significantly help the quickest possible recovery and reconstruction efforts of the government and people of Nepal," she said.

She further hoped that that early implementation of  important projects such as  Pancheshwar, Arun III and Upper Karnali Hydropower Projects and Nijgarh Airport and Kathmandu-Nijgarh Fast Track Road Projects would create new avenues for people’s livelihood, enhance government’s revenue and contribute towards speedy post quake recovery and rehabilitation.

During her stay, she had called on President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

She had held a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Yang Yi on the sidelines of the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction.

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