Kathmandu, Nov. 4 -- Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai on a range of issues of mutual interest, laying the groundwork for Prime Minister Balendra Shah's forthcoming visit to India.
"The bilateral talks covered the entire gamut of Nepal-India relations, including exchange of high-level visits, connectivity, trade, development cooperation, energy and people-to-people relations, underscoring the strong bond between the two countries," the Nepalese foreign ministry said after the meeting.
The foreign secretary held talks on a range of issues of mutual interest with his Nepalese counterpart, in preparation for the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Shah to India, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a post on X.
Foreign Ministries of both Nepal and India are preparing for Prime Minister Shah's forthcoming visit to India, the sources said.
This will be Prime Minister Shah's first visit to any neighbouring country after assuming office in March.
Misri, who is in Nepal on a two-day visit at the invitation of Foreign Secretary Rai, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and discussed prospects for expanding the multifaceted bilateral partnership presented by upcoming high-level engagements, it added.
According to Nepal's foreign ministry, various matters related to further deepening the multifaceted partnership and strengthening the age-old ties of friendship between Nepal and India were discussed.
Khanal said the close relations between Nepal and India "will gain new heights", according to the ministry.
The two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including energy, trade, sports and education, with a focus on further strengthening multifaceted relations and deepening the historical friendship between the two countries, it added.
He is likely to meet PM Shah, who is expected to pay an official visit to India towards the last week of November, sources said.
Misri also paid a courtesy call on Finance Minister Swarnim Wagley and discussed economic collaboration between the two countries.
His meeting with Finance Minister Wagle "featured a substantive exchange of views on further enhancement of the comprehensive and wide-ranging economic partnership between the two countries," the Indian Embassy said in a post on X. He also called on Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.