New Delhi and Kathmandu are likely to also sign agreements on new projects that could benefit the citizens on both sides within a short span of time
NEW DELHI: India and Nepal will seek result-oriented deals that can be executed quickly when KP Oli visits New Delhi on April 6-8, his first foreign visit since becoming the Prime Minister of the Himalayan state in February.
A key focus of the visit will be exploring measures to boost economic and investment partnership, including in the areas of connectivity and capacity building. The two sides are expected to work on expediting the implementation of mega projects, including the Pancheshwar multi-purpose project and the Postal Highway amid China's push to build infrastructure in the Himalayan State.
New Delhi and Kathmandu are likely to also sign agreements on new projects that could benefit the citizens on both sides within a short span of time, people familiar with the matter said.
"The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review wide-ranging cooperative partnerships” and take them further, the foreign ministry said.
Integrated check posts at Birgunj and Biratnagar, railway links from Jogbani to Biratnagar, the Tarai road project, guesthouse for pilgrims at the Pashupatinath Temple complex and the Hetauda Polytechnic are some of the ongoing India-funded projects in Nepal.
India would also seek to impress upon Oli to host the fourth summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) within the next few months, as a government is now in place in Kathmandu. India seeks to give momentum to sub-regional cooperation under the aegis of the BIMSTEC.
“I am visiting India to strengthen bilateral relations. India will play a supportive role in Nepal’s development,” Oli said at a programme organised by the Reporters Club on Saturday ahead of his trip, even as he sought to keep balance in Nepal’s ties vis-à-vis China. “China was ready to support Nepal’s development,” Oli said.