India and Nepal step up engagement ahead of PM Shah's visit
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Nepalese officials in Kathmandu to prepare for Prime Minister Balen Shah's proposed trip to India.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai in Kathmandu on Wednesday, according to The Indian Express. The meetings were held to discuss connectivity, trade, development cooperation, energy, and people-to-people relations ahead of Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah’s expected visit to India.
Misri is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shah on Thursday to finalise the details of the visit. Shah is expected to visit India from November 22 to 24, which would be his first visit to a neighbouring country since assuming office in March.
During his two-day visit to Kathmandu, which was at the invitation of Foreign Secretary Rai, Misri also paid a courtesy call on Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle to discuss economic collaboration. The Nepalese foreign ministry stated on X that the bilateral talks covered the entire gamut of relations, including the exchange of high-level visits.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the close relations between Nepal and India will gain new heights. The discussions also included aspects of sports and education, with a focus on deepening the historical friendship between the two nations.
Misri was welcomed at the airport by India's new Ambassador to Nepal Sudhakar Dalela and officials from the Nepalese foreign ministry. Dalela arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday and will soon present his credentials to the President of Nepal.