Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to making Nepal the destination for his first foreign visit after his previously scheduled trip to Italy for the G7 Summit in mid-June. This assurance came during bilateral talks with Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who attended Modi's inauguration ceremony in New Delhi over the weekend.
"I have invited Modiji to visit Nepal. He has said that he will visit at an appropriate time," Prachanda stated after meeting with Modi. The Nepali leader had urged Modi to start his first overseas tour from South Asia by visiting Nepal.
According to Prachanda's foreign affairs advisor Surendra Thapa, "Modi has already decided to go to the G7 Summit in Italy from June 13 to 15, and he has committed to make his first visit from Nepal."
This prospective visit continues the tradition of Indian prime ministers traveling to Nepal at the beginning of their tenure to underscore the nations' close bilateral ties.
In addition to inviting Modi, Prachanda discussed strengthening implementation of past agreements, re-energizing bilateral mechanisms, and cooperation on projects like the Pancheshwar multipurpose dam and Arun hydropower plant.
The two prime ministers agreed there were opportunities to deepen relations between the neighboring countries in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture and regional connectivity projects.
Prachanda's brief trip also involved discussions with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar regarding advancing Nepal-India collaboration.
