KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 13
Foreign Secretary of India Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who arrived in Kathmandu today on a two day visit, called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, and Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal here separately.
The Indian FS also met Nepal's Foreign Minister Bharat Raj Paudyal. Kwatra discussed bilateral issues during the high profile meetings.
Kwatra paid a courtesy call on President Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas and conveyed greetings on behalf of President of India Droupadi Murmu.
Kwatra also met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at Baluwatar today. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted that matters of Nepal-India cooperation in the areas of energy, trade, connectivity, agriculture, education, and culture was discussed during the meeting.
Indian Embassy in Nepal tweeted that Kwatra met Nepal's foreign secretary and reviewed the wide-ranging India-Nepal partnership.
According to a press release issued by Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal's private secretariat, Paudyal discussed new air routes for Pokhara Regional International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport.
"We have given emphasis on connectivity including opening of new air routes for Nepal," she added.
She said the two sides discussed increment of Indian assistance for Nepal's development, to improve environment for investment in Nepal, promote connectivity between the two countries and to resolve problems seen in bilateral trade. Sometimes we unknowingly face trade barriers. Sometimes our goods are halted (at the border), she added.
Paudyal said that they also discussed creating a joint mechanism to put forth South Asia region's united voice on climate issues.
Indian Embassy tweeted that Kwatra called on Foreign Minister Paudyal and had a fruitful exchange on strengthening the comprehensive India-Nepal relations.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release saying the meeting of the two foreign secretaries reviewed various aspects of Nepal-India relations covering connectivity, trade and transit, power sector cooperation, agriculture, education, culture, health sector and people to people relations, among others. The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in the connectivity projects such as railways, transmission lines, bridges and the ICPs. The foreign secretary of Nepal thanked the Government of India for the supply of fertilisers, easing of export restrictions on food grains, and delivery of dialysis machines.
The two sides discussed the early conclusion of the renewed transit treaty, review of the trade treaty, and convening of inter-governmental committee on trade (IGC) at an early date.
The two sides also expressed commitment to allow export of power from Nepal to India on long-term basis utilising all products of the exchange market. They also discussed technical upgrading of cross-border transmission lines and early approval of the four proposed transmission line projects under the LOC-IV.
The foreign secretary of Nepal reiterated the request of the Government of Nepal for additional air-entry routes as well as early concurrence of the near border flight operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa, according to MoFA. The two foreign secretaries also discussed the boundary matters. In this regard, they exchanged views on completing the boundary works in the remaining segments through the established bilateral mechanisms.
They also agreed to finalise the MoU between foreign service academies of the two countries. The meeting was held in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality reflecting the close and multifaceted relations between the two neighbours.
Foreign Secretary Paudyal hosted luncheon in honour of the visiting Indian foreign secretary and the members of his delegation.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
