KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae has said that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi's India visit will pave the way for three high-level visits to and from Nepal and India.
Ambassador Rae made clear that Nidhi's visit would finalize the date for Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Nepal and Nepal's President Bidya Bhandari and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India.
Speaking at an interaction at Reporter's Club on Wednesday, he further stated that high profile visits between the two neighboring countries will take place in the near future.
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DPM Nidhi is flying to India on Thursday for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Indian President Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday and Saturday.
Following nearly five-month-long Indian blockade of Nepal last winter, relations between the two countries had soured.
Congratulating Dahal after his election as the new prime minister on August 3, Indian Prime Minister Modi had also invited Dahal for India visit.
Dahal-led new government had then decided to send two deputy prime ministers Nidhi and Krishna Bahadur Mahara to India and China respectively in a bid to ensure exchange of high-level visits with both China and India.
Stating that high-level visits between Nepal and India have become necessary, Ambassador Rae said that the Indian side has already started homework for such visits. “Bilateral visits between the two countries are necessary, such visits and interactions will further improve mutual relations between the two countries,” he said.
He further said that India has always wanted to see development in Nepal and is ready to assist Nepal for its development and prosperity. “India wants economic growth. And for that peace and stability in Nepal is a must,” he said.
