External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Thursday held a meeting with Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel at his office in Kathmandu, marking his first visit of 2024. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport by Nepal’s foreign secretary and other senior officials, as announced by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his happiness to be back in Nepal for his first visit of the year, looking forward to engagements over the next two days.
During his two-day visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission with his counterpart NP Saud. This meeting will review the state of bilateral relations and various areas of mutual cooperation, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Established in 1987, the India-Nepal Joint Commission provides a platform for both ministers to assess all aspects of the bilateral partnership. Jaishankar is also scheduled to call on Nepal’s leadership and meet prominent political figures, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Additionally, Jaishankar is set to meet Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ and Foreign Minister NP Saud will host a dinner in honor of Jaishankar and his delegation.
Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Saud said, “We are planning to ink two agreements and are going to inaugurate three cross-border transmission lines.”
The discussions between the two nations will cover connectivity, economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources, culture, education, and other crucial topics. The agenda will build upon agreements reached during Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official visit to Delhi in 2022.
Following the joint commission meeting, India and Nepal are expected to sign agreements related to long-term energy cooperation and India’s proposal to increase funds for small development projects under the High-impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), according to The Kathmandu Post.
Nepal is a priority partner of India under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, and the visit aligns with the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two close and friendly neighbors, the MEA said in a statement.