Krishna holds bilateral talks, sets stage for Nepal PM’s visit
April 20th, 2011 - 4:47 pm ICT by IANSKathmandu, April 20 (IANS) Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Wednesday began bilateral talks in Nepal, according top priority to ties with the neighbouring country and setting the stage for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s maiden visit to India.
Krishna held talks with Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari — since Nepal currently doesn’t have a foreign minister — and will meet Khanal during the day and make a courtesy call on President Ram Baran Yadav.
On Thursday, he will hold consultations with leaders of the major political parties. However, it was not immediately known when he would meet Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, chief of the Maoist party that has stepped up its anti-India rhetoric ahead of Krishna’s three-day visit.
The decision-making body of the Maoists, the politburo, began two-day consultations Wednesday to discuss if they would send additional ministers to the cabinet.
On Wednesday, Krishna will fly to Birgunj near the Indian border, where India has a consulate, to inaugurate an integrated check post built with Indian assistance. He will also lay the foundation of the Terai Fast Track Road project, funded by India.
“These projects will contribute towards Nepal’s international trade and economic development,” Krishna said.
Describing the agenda of his visit - the second in 13 months - Krishna said it would seek to expand Indo-Nepal relations, which were “multi-faceted”. The minister is accompanied by a seven-member delegation, including Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
“India is committed to working with the people of Nepal for a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal,” he said. “Relations with Nepal are, and will continue to be, a matter of the highest priority for India.”
Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai said the preliminary talks focused on enhancing trade and investment and took stock of the commitments made by both sides during Prachanda’s visit to New Delhi in 2009 as prime minister.
India and Nepal have also agreed to hold regular consultations between different bilateral mechanisms, he added.
The visit paves the way for Bhattari’s trip to India, likely to be next week, to set the stage for the Nepali prime minister’s first visit to India.
Khanal will head for Istanbul May 7 to attend a conference of least developed nations. He has expressed keenness to visit India prior to that, if the agenda can be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of both countries.
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