"Look forward to engagements" says EAM S Jaishankar as he arrives in Nepal

KATHMANDU: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday arrived in Nepal for his first visit of 2024. He stated that he looked forward to the engagements over the next two days.

Nepal Foreign Minister NP Saud received him at the airport. The two leaders engaged in conversation as they proceeded towards their car.

In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Namaste Kathmandu Happy to be back in Nepal for my first visit of 2024. Looking forward to the engagements over the next two days."

Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Nepal from January 4-5. During the visit, he will co-chair the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission with his counterpart NP Saud. The Joint Commission Meeting will review the overall state of bilateral relations and various areas of mutual cooperation, according to the statement released by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Established in 1987, the India-Nepal Joint Commission provides a platform for both ministers to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership. Jaishankar will also call on the leadership of Nepal and meet prominent political figures, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

During his visit, Jaishankar will meet Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda.' Nepal Foreign Minister NP Saud will host a dinner in honour of Jaishankar and members of his delegation, according to a statement released by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, NP Saud said, "We are planning to ink two agreements and are going to inaugurate three cross-border transmission lines." He further said, "Besides these, we have over three dozen items of meeting agenda."

During the meeting, the two sides will discuss connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources, culture and education, among other things, The Kathmandu Post reported. The two leaders will also bring up matters discussed and agreed upon during Pushpa Kamal Dahal's official visit to Delhi in 2022.

After the joint commission meeting, India and Nepal will sign a pair of 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), The Kathmandu Post reported.

Nepal is a priority partner of India under its 'Neighbourhood First' policy,' according to MEA. In a statement, MEA stated, "The visit is in keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between two close and friendly neighbours."

Notably, India and Nepal share unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterised by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special ties that exist between the two nations.