Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, held a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The two leaders reviewed progress made during recent meetings of various bilateral mechanisms and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, according to a statement from the Nepal Embassy.
In a post on X, Deuba noted that their discussions centered on enhancing people-to-people exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties. “A highly fruitful interaction with S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue,” she wrote.
Deuba praised India’s “Neighborhood First” policy, reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with its southern neighbor.
In a subsequent interview with ANI, Deuba elaborated on key topics discussed, highlighting the joint development of hydropower resources and expanding trade between the two nations. “Our main focus is the joint development of hydropower and trade. These were the primary issues we discussed today,” she said.
Deuba also mentioned that India and Nepal have resumed several meetings that were previously delayed, signaling a renewed commitment to addressing long-standing issues. She emphasized the importance of cooperation in flood management, water resource sharing, and trade security.
“We are concentrating on building closer ties, especially in energy trade and the exchange of goods, and possibly formalizing our borders. We also hope to collaborate on global issues,” Deuba added.
(With ANI inputs)