At the invitation of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, is on an official visit to India from 18-22 August 2024.

The Foreign Ministers of Nepal and India held bilateral talks on 19 August, covering the full range of the India-Nepal bilateral partnership. The ministers reviewed progress on various bilateral initiatives and discussed opportunities for further collaboration in existing and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

India and Nepal, with their deep historical, civilizational, cultural, and people-to-people ties, have seen accelerated momentum in recent years in implementing India-assisted projects in Nepal. These projects span areas like physical, digital, and people-to-people connectivity, including cross-border railways, roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, petroleum pipelines, and digital financial connectivity.

Nepal is now able to export nearly 1000 MW of electricity to India, generating revenue for Nepal and providing clean energy for India. The Foreign Ministers discussed the remarkable progress in power sector cooperation and the opportunities available through the implementation of the Long Term Power Trade Agreement.

Sports cooperation between India and Nepal is also on the rise, with the recent training provided to the Nepali cricket team at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru being appreciated.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Deuba also met with the Prime Minister of India. The discussion focused on further strengthening India-Nepal cooperation in various mutually beneficial areas.

Nepal remains a priority partner for India under its Neighbourhood First policy. This visit, consistent with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges, provided an opportunity to discuss and identify newer areas of cooperation to further advance bilateral ties.

Dr. S. Jaishankar India In Nepal Arzu Deuba