KATHMANDU, April 19: Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat has termed the visit of President Bidya Bhandari 'important' and 'fruitful'. 

Talking to journalists upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from India on Wednesday, Minister Mahat said the visit has fruitful to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Minister Mahat said the Indian side extended goodwill toward the efforts being made by Nepal to implement the constitution by holding local level election. “They have expressed their commitment to extend support to Nepal's development endeavors,” he said.

While dismissing concerns of a section of Nepali people that President Bhandari was not accorded due honor in India, Minister Mahat said that the Indian side had left no stone unturned to extend respect and good hospitality to her. “The guard of honor that India extended is important. And this was extended at Rastrapati Bhawan,” he further said.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high level political leadership were among those present during the guard of honor ceremony. 

Minister Mahat returned home on Wednesday, cutting short his visit by two days. He said that the visit was cut short as meetings with Indian political leadership including President Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other cabinet ministers were already over. 

He said that the progress being made in the cooperation between Nepal and India in various sectors including in the hydropower, inter-country transmission line and post-quake reconstruction works were reviewed during meetings with Indian leadership. 

Meanwhile, President Bhandari visited India's fourth largest city, Rajkot on Wednesday, wrapping up her important functions and meetings in New Delhi. 

In Rajkot, she paid homage to the Somnath Temple as well as other pilgrimage sites and attended a luncheon hosted by Gujrat's Chief Minister Vijaya Rupani. The president is scheduled to visit Odisha Thursday. 

 
• minister for foreign affairs
 
• dr prakash sharan mahat
 
• president bidya devi bhandari
 
• fruitful and significant