KATHMANDU, Sept 14: Nepal and India have agreed to hold the home-secretary level talks in November in Kathmandu at a meeting. This was decided in a meeting between Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who arrived on a two-day visit to Kathmandu Monday. [break]
"The home secretary-level talks scheduled in November will address border management issues, including the extradition treaty," said Madan Kumar Bhattarai, secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). "The home secretary-level talks scheduled in November will address border management issues, including the extradition treaty."
Koirala and Rao have also stressed on enhancing "transparency" and strengthening "communication" between the two countries.
The two sides also agreed that the much-delayed Trade Treaty would be endorsed "very soon". The Indian cabinet is likely to approve it. In this regard, the government has also extended an invitation to the Indian commerce minister for a visit to Nepal in order to sign the treaty.
Rao´s visit is seen as a follow-up to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal´s recently concluded India visit.
"Discussions were held on agreements reached during the PM´s visit to India," Bhattarai said." But no agreement has been reached in preparing the border strip map as there are claims and counter-claims.
The Indian side has also sent a team of experts to carry out initial feasibility study for establishing the Narayanhiti museum a few days before the PM´s India visit.
Earlier, Rao met with Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya and discussed bilateral issues ranging from border security to trade and investment. She also met with President of Nepali Congress, GP Koirala, and Chairman of CPN-UML, Jhalanath Khanal, Monday.
Rao is scheduled to meet PM Nepal and Chief of Army Staff, Chhatraman Singh Gurung on Tuesday.
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