Published 17:14 IST, January 14th 2021

Nepal Foreign Minister embarks on 3-day India visit

 Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Thursday embarked on a three-day visit to India during which he will attend the 6th meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission and discuss the entire gamut of relations, including COVID-19 cooperation and border disputes, with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

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 Nepal's Foreign Minister Preep Kumar Gyawali on Thursday embarked on a three-day visit to India during which he will attend 6th meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission and discuss entire gamut of relations, including COVID-19 cooperation and border disputes, with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.Gyawali is senior-most political leer from Nepal to visit India after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli triggered a border row last year by publishing a new political map that showed three Indian territories - Limpiyhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh - as part of Nepal. Joint Commission is highest mechanism between two countries to discuss entire gamut of bilateral relations.

During meeting, two countries are scheduled to hold discussions on various issues including bilateral tre, energy, border disputes and COVID-19 assistance.

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Joint Commission meeting will discuss whole gamut of Nepal-India bilateral relations, including tre, transit, energy, boundary, COVID-19 cooperation, infrastructure, connectivity, investment, agriculture, tourism, culture, among ors,  Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement earlier.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Gyawali will also meet with high-level dignitaries of India, foreign ministry said here.Gyawali is being accompanied by Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Poudyal and Secretary at Ministry of Health and Population Laxmi Aryal, according to officials.

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After Nepal released map last year, India reacted sharply, calling it a unilateral act and cautioning Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it.

India said that Nepal's action violated an understanding reached between two countries to resolve boundary issues through talks.

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bilateral exchanges that h stalled due to bitter boundary dispute were reset in later part of 2020 with a series of high-level visits, as New Delhi emphasised that it sees itself as Himalayan nation's "foremost friend" and development partner.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's maiden visit to Nepal in November was largely aimed at resetting bilateral ties. Shringla met Prime Minister Oli and or top political brass and emphasised that India and Nepal are on same page and share same vision.

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Shringla’s trip followed earlier ones by Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane, and a whirlwind tour by Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Kumar Goel to Kathmandu in a bid to mend ties.

Senior BJP leer and party's he of foreign affairs department Vijay Chauthaiwale also visited Nepal in early December. 

(IMAGE CREDITS:mofa.gov.np)

17:14 IST, January 14th 2021