KATHMANDU, Aug 17: India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Nepal on Sunday for a two-day visit focused on deepening bilateral ties. He held meetings with key Nepali leaders, including President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.
During his meeting with PM Oli at Singhdurbar, Misri reaffirmed the strong India-Nepal partnership and discussed opportunities for expanding collaboration. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava was also present.
Misri conveyed greetings from Indian leadership to President Paudel and updated him on recent progress in bilateral relations. President Paudel appreciated India’s socio-economic and technological advancements and expressed a desire for Nepal to benefit further. He also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, emphasizing Nepal’s commitment to strong ties with India.
One of the primary purposes of Misri’s visit was to hand over an invitation from PM Modi to PM Oli for a proposed visit to India on September 16–17. Misri also met Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, where discussions focused on bilateral cooperation and regional connectivity.
Deuba stressed the need for expanding air connectivity between Nepal and India, including direct routes between New Delhi and Nepalgunj, and increased connectivity to Gautam Buddha and Pokhara international airports.
Additionally, Misri met his counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai and held talks with senior political leaders, including Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chairman Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. These meetings covered a wide range of mutual interests.
According to the Indian embassy, all discussions highlighted the close and multifaceted India-Nepal relationship, built on mutual trust, goodwill, and shared aspirations for prosperity and regional stability. Misri will depart Kathmandu on Monday afternoon. (PTI)
