Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kathmandu this morning on two day official visit to Nepal. He was received a the airport by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang. Mr. Modi was accorded a red carpet welcome and given a 19 gun salute.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is accompanied by a high level delegation which include National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval and External Affairs Secretary Sujatha Singh. According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson in Kathmandu, Khag Nath Adhikari, Nepal and India are set to ink three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) including Tourism Cooperation, Goitre Control Program and Cooperation between Nepal Television and DoorDarshan. They will also endorse the decisions taken by the 3rd India Nepal- Joint Commission meeting headed by the Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Modi will address the Constituent assembly later in the afternoon becoming the first foreign head of State to do so and meet with the Chairman Suhas Chandra Nembang. Adinner is being hosted by Prime Minister Koirala in the evening. Tomorrow , Prime Minister will visit Pashupatinath Temple and offer prayer. He will meet President Ram Baran Yadav who will hold a lunch in honour of Mr. Modi. The Prime Minister will also meet a cross section of political leaders and business men.
Ahead of his visit, Mr Modi expressed hope that he will have fruitful discussions with leaders and lawmakers of the Himalayan nation that will take India-Nepal relations to even greater heights. In a statement, he said, Nepal and India are time-tested friends and the two nations share a common culture and heritage. Mr. Modi said, the two countries will identify steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including trade and investment, hydro power, agriculture and agro-processing, environment, tourism, education, culture and sports.
The Prime Minister said India is committed to continue its support to the neighbouring country in its development efforts and ongoing major projects for development of border infrastructure will usher in economic prosperity for the people living on both sides of the border and also enhance connectivity. Mr. Modi said the visit is significant in another aspect also as it will provide him an opportunity to pay obeisance at Pashupatinath temple on the auspicious occasion of Monday in the month of Shravana.
