Nepal foreign minister in India as Delhi pushes 'Neighbourhood First' policy

Nepal's newly-appointed Foreign Minister, Arzu Deuba Rana, began a five-day official visit to India on Sunday (August 18) in her first foreign trip since taking office. The visit is at the invitation of India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar. The two met in New Delhi on Monday (August 19).

Pleased to welcome FM @Arzuranadeuba of Nepal on her first official visit abroad.

Discussed the multifaceted 🇮🇳🇳🇵 cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development.

Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to… pic.twitter.com/raXs83jqBA — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 19, 2024

Nepal's foreign ministry described the trip as an opportunity to further consolidate the long-standing, deep, and multifaceted ties between the two South Asian neighbouring countries.

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"Foreign Minister Rana will hold a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart, Minister Jaishankar, on Monday. They will discuss matters of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening Nepal-India relations and promoting cooperation," an official readout from Kathmandu read.

India's Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Nepal is a priority partner in India's "Neighbourhood First" policy.

"This visit will provide both sides with an opportunity to discuss and review the progress in bilateral cooperation, helping to advance our ties further," the ministry said in a statement from New Delhi.

Rana, who is also the spouse of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, is expected to undergo a health checkup in Delhi during her stay. She is scheduled to return to Nepal on August 22.

This visit follows the recent trip of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Nepal.

Rana's visit is expected to further solidify the already strong relationship between Nepal and India, paving the way for future collaborations on various fronts.

(With inputs from agencies)