KATHMANDU, June 12: Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa has said Nepal and India, two close neighbors, are enjoying very special relations and these relations are incomparable.
Talking to media persons today at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival from attending the first convocation ceremony of South Asian University held in New Delhi on June 11, the Deputy Prime Minister said, " The bilateral relations between the two countries are getting consolidated and they have not been impeded as talked and guessed."
Misunderstandings seen in the Nepal-India relations had been cleared off with the latest Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit there, he said, adding that the exchange of bilateral visits was taking place. India just wished that all Nepali citizens could find their existence and ownership in the new constitution and Nepal would have peace, stability and strengthened democracy, he said.
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According to Foreign Affairs Minister Thapa, his meeting with his Indian counterpart focused on reviewing the current state of Nepal-India bilateral relations. The meeting also emphasized on the importance of regular exchange of views at different levels in order to further strengthen the bilateral relations. They agreed to have a Joint Commission meeting at a mutually convenient date in order to review the overall progress in Nepal-India relations including the progress in various joint undertakings.
The agenda of economic development was the post-constitution focus priority of Nepal, he said, adding that the government sought to maintain good relations with it both close neighbors to materialize the dream for economic development.
Preparations were underway to hold 13 bilateral meetings between Nepal and India within coming July and the Joint Commission Meeting on coming October, as shared by Minister Thapa on the occasion.
President's India visit in appropriate time
Foreign Minister Thapa said an agreement had been made between the two sides to arrange for bilateral visits by the Presidents of both countries in an appropriate time, bearing in mind the importance of such high level visits in consolidating the bilateral ties.
During his stay in the Indian capital, Minister Nepal had a meeting with Indian Congress I senior leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On the occasion, the two exchanged views on the current state of the relations between the two countries. In his address to the University convocation ceremony, Minister Thapa reiterated Nepal's commitments to the SAARC and to its ideologies and goals.
In a response to journalists' query, he called on political parties to realize that any misunderstanding among them could hamper the constitution enforcement efforts. RSS