KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that President Bidya Devi Bhandari's visit to India has been very fruitful and significant.

He said this talking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning upon his return from India.

Mahat was a member of the high level delegation accompanying President Bhandari during her ongoing state visit to India.

"This visit has been fruitful in enhancing the relations and goodwill between the two countries," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

He shared that India's President, Prime Minister and leaders of various political parties, during their meetings with President Bhandari, highlighted the significance of the Nepal-India ties and extended best wishes to Nepal in its efforts towards implementing the constitution and holding the local level election.

"They have also expressed the commitment to support Nepal in its development endeavours," Mahat added.

Responding to journalists' question that President Bhandari was received at the airport by India's Minister of State, Minister Mahat made it clear that there was nothing lacking in the honour the Government of India accorded to Nepal's President.

"The guard of honour that India gave to Nepal's President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan is an important thing. The Indian President, Prime Minister and distinguished personalities were present on the occasion," he said.

Minister Mahat explained that President Bhandari went to the airport when Indian President Pranab Mukherjee arrived on a state visit to Nepal as Nepal has the tradition of presenting the guard of honour at the airport itself.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs returned home today after the formal programmes and high-level meetings scheduled for the President on the first two days of her visit in New Delhi concluded on Tuesday night, Yek Raj Pathak, Minister Mahat's public relations and press advisor, stated in a press release today.