New Delhi, May 31: Boosting India-Nepal cooperation in areas of energy, connectivity and trade is set to be the focus of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Thursday.
Hours after arriving in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day visit to India, ‘Prachanda’ said at an event in the Nepalese embassy that both sides are keen to expand the overall ties and indicated that a number of agreements are likely to be firmed following his talks with Modi.
Separately, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on the Nepalese leader and discussed various aspects of India-Nepal ties. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra was also present in the meeting.
It is Prachanda’s first bilateral trip abroad after assuming the top office in December 2022.
“We are committed to strengthening ties between the two countries,” the Nepalese prime minister said at the event at the embassy.
Nepalese Foreign Minister N P Saud, who is part of Prachanda’s delegation, said a wide range of matters, including trade, transit, connectivity and border issues will figure in the bilateral talks on Thursday.
Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship.
Transforming the civilizational ties between India and Nepal with deeper cooperation in areas of connectivity, economy, energy and infrastructure is expected to be a focus area of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prachanda on Thursday, people familiar with the matter said.
One of the key priority areas would be to further deepen the power sector cooperation through new initiatives across the entire spectrum of cooperation, they said. (PTI)
