PM's visit fruitful to bolster bilateral cooperation: Foreign Minister Khadka

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has returned home, wrapping up the three-day official visit to India on Sunday evening.

In a press briefing organized at Tribhuvan International Airport upon the arrival of PM Deuba, Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka expressed the belief that the bilateral meetings held with high-level leadership including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during PM Deuba's three-day visit would further foster cooperation and collaboration between Nepal and India.

He informed that significant discussions were held during the visit. "PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart Modi held bilateral delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday. Indian PM Modi warmly welcomed PM Deuba on his fifth visit to India as Prime Minister of Nepal. The two Prime Ministers recalled their meeting in Glasgow, United Kingdom during the COP26. During the meeting, the two Prime Ministers took a broad overview of Nepal-India relations in all dimensions to further enhance the close and cordial ties between the two countries," he reminded.

For both countries to cement the long-term cooperation on hydropower, both sides agreed on Nepal-India Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation. They discussed promoting connectivity and infrastructure through the building of roads, railways, pipelines, transmission lines and air services.

Minister Khadka further shared that Nepal and India exchanged signatures on the following significant documents: MoU for Enhancing Technical Cooperation in Railway Sector; Framework Agreement of International Solar Alliance; Agreement between NOC and IOC for Supply of Fuel for 5 Years and Agreement between NOC and IOC for Sharing Technical Expertise. Similarly, in the presence of both Prime Ministers, there was a virtual inauguration of the Jaynagar-Janakpur Cross Border Rail Link Project, 132 KVDC Solu Corridor Transmission Line Project, Construction of 132 Health Facilities and the Launch of the Rupay Card.

During the meeting, PM Deuba requested the Indian counterpart for the additional air entry routes from Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and Janakpur. Moreover, he informed the Prime Minister of India responded positively to various proposals on development and economic partnership between Nepal and India.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the recent signing of an MoU on the supply of Urea and DAP from India to Nepal on a G-to-G arrangement. PM Deuba requested the supply of the first consignment of 150,000 metric tons of fertilizers to Nepal before the upcoming monsoon season. He thanked his Indian counterpart for India’s support of Covid-19 vaccines, medicines, liquid oxygen and other medical logistics to Nepal. He also expressed Nepal’s gratitude for India’s support for post-earthquake reconstruction. Matters such as trade and transit, culture and tourism, cooperation in agriculture and sugarcane germplasm, and various other bilateral matters of mutual interests and benefits were also figured out during the meeting.

For cooperation in the health sector, both Prime Ministers discussed developing the JP Koirala National Respiratory Disease Centre of Tanahu as an Academy. The two leaders discussed boundary matters. The discussion was held on resolving boundary matters through the established bilateral mechanisms.

PM Deuba emphasized the age-old, time-tested and multi-dimensional relations with strong people-to-people contacts and said that Nepal attached high importance to its relations with India. Similarly, Indian PM Modi highlighted friendship, cordiality and ancient civilizational linkages between Nepal and India.

During the visit, Minister for External Affairs of India, S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor of India, Shri Ajit Doval, called on PM Duba and discussed matters of bilateral interests on occasion.

PM Deuba also addressed a gathering of the business community in New Delhi organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and called upon them to invest in Nepal’s productive sectors, particularly in hydropower. A business delegation consisting of representatives of private-sector apex bodies from Nepal, among others, accompanied the PM.

On the occasion, India requested Nepal to propose new proposals to utilize the unspent amount of USD 500 Million under the LOC-IV offer to Nepal.

Moreover, the Foreign Ministry informed that the two Prime Ministers noted that some landmark projects such as Pancheshwar Hydropower Project have great potential in accelerating economic and development partnerships. Both sides emphasized the need for early finalization of the DPR of the Pancheswar Hydropower Project which will lead to the execution of the project for mutual benefit.

PM Deuba also extended the invitation of a Nepal visit to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Minister Khadka expressed gratitude to the Indian Prime Minister, government bodies, leaders and Indian people for the welcome, hospitality and goodwill to the Nepali delegation led by PM Deuba.

Before returning home, PM Deuba also visited the Kanshi Bishwonath Temple and conducted puja at Varanasi.

PM Deuba was accompanied by his spouse, Arzu Rana Deuba; Foreign Minister Dr Khadka; Minister of Water Resources, Energy and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal; Minister for Health and Population, Birodh Khatiwada; Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mahindra Ray Yadav; Chief Secretary; Secretaries; Ambassador of Nepal to India and other officials.