Visiting Nepal Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai and External Affairs Minister Mr. S.M. Krishna discussed issues of mutual concern in a meeting in New Delhi on Friday morning. Official sources said, the peace process in the Himalayan Nation also came up for discussion.
The visiting Prime Minister called on the President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan and also met the Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari. Before holding delegation level talks with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Bhattarai will exchange views with the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
Nepal Prime Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai paid homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi at Rajghat in the National Capital.
Expanding trade and developmental cooperation will figure prominently in the delegation level talks between the Prime Minister of Nepal and his Indian counterpart.
The two countries are finalising an investment protection agreement to boost Indian investment in that country. Security cooperation including the proposed extradition treaty is also likely to be the focus of discussions.
In his talks with the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Bhattarai is expected to brief him about recent political developments in that country and seek India’s support in taking forward the peace process.
He is likely to seek India’s help in pushing forward the peace process in the Himalayan nation. Setting the tone for his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Bhattarai called for unity between the people of India and Nepal. He added that the fate of the two countries is interlinked and they need to join hands to win.
AIR correspondent reports that this is Bhattarai's first bilateral visit abroad and his first official visit to India after taking charge as Nepal's prime minister less than two months ago.
It underlines a keen desire on part of both Nepal and New Delhi to build stronger ties.
India is expected to unveil a 250 million dollar credit line to Nepal for infrastructure projects, including roads and irrigation.
