Foreign Minister expresses govt willingness to receive EPG reportv

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka has said the government was willing to receive the Nepal-India Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) report.

Minister Dr Khadka said this while responding to the queries raised by parliamentarians in course of deliberation on the Appropriation Bill, 2079 BS at the House of Representatives today.

He also asserted implementation of the report recommendations was for the benefit of both the countries. The Minister expressed his confidence that it would help address the historically unsolved issues and also further strengthen the bilateral relations persisting between Nepal and India.

It may be noted that the EPG was formed in 2016 to recommend the measures to further consolidate the century-old multi-dimensional bilateral relations between Nepal and India by reviewing the existing treaties and agreements. The group has already prepared the report after completing its task.

In the parliamentary deliberations today, lawmakers had raised the issues related to the operation of Nepal's foreign relations, non-alignment, relations with neighbouring countries, border security, border management, foreign investment, overall economic diplomacy, management of foreign employment, institutional capacity building of foreign ministry and appointment of ambassadors.

In response, Foreign Minister Khadka clarified that the government was sticking to its policy of embracing the directives and policy arrangements of the Constitution and adopting independent and balanced foreign relations based on mutual benefits.

He further briefed that the government since its formation has accomplished significant works in expanding and consolidating the country's international relations.

The government's diplomatic efforts are underway to safeguard national independence and interests, contribute to the country's socio-economic development through economic diplomacy and further improve Nepal's relations with all friendly nations of the world including neighbouring countries based on mutual interests and benefits, he added.

The Foreign Minister further said that the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation had already unveiled Nepal's political and administrative map inclusive of territory including Limpiyadhura across Mahakali-east as per the Nepal government (cabinet) decision of 18 May 2020. The Nepal-India Border Inspection and Monitoring Committee, formed as per the cabinet decision of 3 August 2020 has been continuously doing its ground works, Minister clarified while responding to the queries.

Nepal's government has been consistently effortful in having a dialogue with India to address the backlog of border issues, Minister Khadka added.

Likewise, Minister Khadka clarified that the bilateral discussion between Nepal and China has resolved the problems that occasionally surfaced along the border.