Foreign secretary Vikram Misri calls on Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during his two-day visit, in Kathmandu on Sunday. (Picture credit: ANI)
NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri started his two-day visit to Nepal on Sunday with a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Singha Durbar. The meeting was also attended by Oli’s chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, and senior officials from the Nepali foreign ministry, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.Misri landed in Kathmandu on a special Indian Air Force flight at around 9 am local time, where he was welcomed by his counterpart, Foreign secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, along with the Indian envoy. His trip comes at the invitation of Rai and is part of ongoing efforts to review and advance bilateral cooperation.During his stay, Misri is set to hold a series of high-level engagements. He will call on President Ram Chandra Paudel and meet foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, as well as former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. According to news agency ANI, the two foreign secretaries will also meet formally to discuss ties covering trade, connectivity, energy cooperation and regional development.The visit is seen as groundwork for Prime Minister Oli’s upcoming official trip to India later next month. Diplomatic sources cited by news agency PTI claim that Oli is expected to travel to New Delhi around September 16, although an official announcement has not yet been made. Preparations are also underway for a separate meeting between Oli and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, a site of deep cultural and spiritual importance.The ministry of external affairs described Misri’s trip as part of the “tradition of regular high-level exchanges” and underlined that “Nepal holds a high priority under India’s Neighbourhood First policy.” Nepal’s ministry of foreign affairs, in its own statement, added that talks will focus on strengthening cooperation, particularly in connectivity and development.Misri will wrap up his Kathmandu engagements and return to India on Monday.
