Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India-Nepal ties will get a major boost when President Ram Baran Yadav arrives here Monday on a four-day state visit - his first foreign trip after assuming office last July.
A number of agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries, especially in the areas of infrastructure, human resource development and aviation. An air services agreement will probably be inked, as the Indian cabinet has approved the pact.

The agreement will create an open skies scenario for air cargo services and will increase the number of flights between the two countries.

A former medical student in India, Yadav will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt Tuesday. President Pratibha Patil will host a banquet for the visiting leader at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Tuesday evening.

The Nepali president will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during which they will discuss bilateral issues related to trade, economic and political issues, an official said.

Yadav will also meet President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

The Nepali leader will also be visiting Haridwar to take part in the Maha Kumbh celebrations.

“India attaches the highest importance to the visit, which is of special significance,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said ahead of the visit.

“Nepal is currently going through a process of democratic transition. There is a peace process going on,” said Prakash, adding that India was “supportive” of the process.

The visit comes as during the last few months, the Maoists in Nepal again started to spout anti-India rhetoric, which had led External Affairs Minister Krishna to lodge a protest with their chief, Prachanda, in Kathmandu last month.

During Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s visit last year, both countries had inked major projects with a total outlay of Rs.2,000 crore. Similarly, when Krishna went to Nepal, a memorandum of understanding was signed for construction of roads in the Terai region costing over Rs.800 crore.

India accounts for 58 percent of Nepal’s foreign trade, with the South Asian giant also being the largest foreign invester with Rs.900 crore.