Nepal is a priority partner under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s first visit to Nepal after assuming office last month saw a series of high-level engagements aimed at providing a further impetus to the close bilateral partnership between the two neighbouring nations.
 
On Monday (August 12, 2024), he met his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal. Their wide-ranging discussions covered various aspects of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal. “Both Foreign Secretaries reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and discussed opportunities for further collaboration,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal also hosted a lunch for the visiting delegation.
 
Foreign Secretary Misri called on Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. They discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest & ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all sectors.
 
Earlier, on Sunday, he paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel. While conveying greetings of the Indian leadership, he discussed ways to further strengthen India-Nepal ties across all sectors, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said.
 
The Indian Foreign Secretary also called on Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. According to the Indian Embassy, he reaffirmed India and Nepal’s civilizational, close and multifaceted relationship and discussed ways to provide an impetus to various sectors of bilateral cooperation.
 
According to the MEA, during the various engagements, both sides affirmed the close and friendly relations between India and Nepal which are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people ties.
 
Nepal a Priority Partner for India
Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First policy. Foreign Secretary Mistri’s visit continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and helped in advancing India-Nepal bilateral ties further.
 
According to the MEA, during their meetings, both sides noted with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in the recent years in bilateral cooperation, especially in the various areas of connectivity - physical, digital, energy as well as people-to-people, which is manifested in the steady implementation of infrastructure projects related to roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, cross-border railways as well as petroleum pipelines.

Both sides also appreciated the progress made in the mutually beneficial partnership in the field of power sector cooperation, which has seen substantial progress in recent years.
 
“In this context, it was noted with satisfaction that the manifold increase in Nepal's hydropower export to India in the last 2-3 years has created an additional source of revenue for Nepal and of clean energy for India. The role of power sector cooperation in Nepal's graduation from LDC status in 2026 was also highlighted,” the MEA stated.
 
This was Foreign Secretary Misri's second visit to a neighbouring country in the past one month. He earlier visited Bhutan from July 19-20, 2024 on his first official visit to a foreign country after assuming office.
 
Close & Vibrant Development Partnership 
India-Nepal cooperation spans various sectors including trade, energy, water resources, health and education infrastructure, and cultural exchanges. Recent years have also seen a continued momentum in major infrastructure and connectivity projects in Nepal.
 
This visit provided an opportunity to showcase the latest example of India’s efforts to help reconstruct infrastructure in Nepal.
 
On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Misri and Nepal’s Urban Development Secretary Maniram Gelel jointly inaugurated the new building of Nepal Bhasha Parishad in Kathmandu. The historical residential building, which has been constructed under India’s post-earthquake reconstruction grant, is associated with eminent Nepali poet, Kavi Kesari Chittadhar ‘Hridaya’ in Raktakali in the heart of Kathmandu’s old town.
 
This is one of the 28 cultural sector reconstruction projects undertaken with Government of India assistance after the devastating 2015 earthquake.
 
Additionally, since 2003, the Government of India has undertaken over 551 High Impact Community Development Cooperation (HICDPs) in Nepal across various sectors, completing 490 projects. These projects are part of the 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' initiative.