KATHMANDU, Jan 16: The Sixth Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission (JC) held in New Delhi on Friday mainly focused on enhancing bilateral ties between two nations, their COVID-19 responses and the recent territorial disputes.
In the meeting co-chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations that included the important areas of Covid-19 vaccine, boundary and border management, connectivity and economic cooperation, trade and transit, power and water resources, and culture and education, among others, according to a press statement issued by Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.
Minister Gyawali on his side thanked the Government of India for its assistance of essential medicines and medical equipment. Meanwhile, the Indian side assured that the requirements of Nepal would be in priority consideration after the roll-out of vaccines.
PM’s India Visit: Prioritize resolution of border disputes
The JC meeting discussed the boundary matter and expressed the commitment to early completion of the boundary works in the remaining segments. It also discussed the review of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, submission of the report of the Eminent Persons Group, and air entry routes, reads the statement.
The two Ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in increasing cross-border infrastructure and connectivity, strengthening of development partnership and expeditious implementation of major ongoing projects and initiatives, including the first cross-border petroleum products pipeline, Integrated Check Posts at major border crossing points, railway links, power transmission lines, upgradation of roads and motorable bridges.
The meeting also agreed to further speed up the implementation of the ongoing and planned bilateral projects such as the new Integrated Check Posts/Inland Container Depot, including at Dodhara-Chandani, remaining cross border railways, roads, and transmission lines, among others.
Similarly, both sides agreed for an early conclusion of the review of Treaty of Trade, Treaty of Transit and the amendments to Rail Services Agreement with a view to further strengthen cooperation in these fields.
The meeting also agreed to expedite the work for 400 Kv Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line and Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
Minister Gyawali leading a team of Nepali delegation had flown to India to participate in the Nepal-India Joint Commission on Thursday. He is scheduled to return home today.
The Joint Commission, founded in 1987, is the highest mechanism between the two countries to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral ties between Nepal and India.
