The fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission concluded successfully here in Kathmandu today.
Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart minister of external affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective country.
During the meeting that started with opening remarks by the two foreign ministers, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with specific focus on the areas of connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources sectors, culture, and education, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Likewise, the two ministers, on the occasion, emphasised the importance of tourism in socio-economic development and agreed to enhance their cooperation in tourism sector, particularly in the context of Visit Nepal Year 2020. “Nepal on the occasion, requested for additional air entry routes to Nepal but India replied that discussion which are underway between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries will yield positive results,” according to an official at the meting.
The Joint Commission – being held after a long interval of three years – expressed happiness over the momentum generated in the overall aspects of Nepal-India relations following the exchange of high-level visits in the past two years. The visit of Dr Jaishankar, India’s newly appointed external affairs minister, is the first high-level visit from India since the reelection of Narendra Modi earlier this summer.
“The Joint Commission meeting also expressed satisfaction over progress in three new areas – Raxaul-Kathmandu Electrified Rail Line, Inland Waterways and New Partnership in Agriculture – agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Oli to India in April 2018,” the press note reads, adding that matters related to cooperation in international, regional and sub- regional fora were also discussed. “The meeting expressed happiness at the progress made in the bilateral projects like Motihari- Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline, four segments of Hulaki Roads, and post-earthquake reconstruction of private housing in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts which have been completed.”
They expressed happiness over progress made in Jayanagar-Janakpur and Jogbani-Biratnagar sections of cross-border railway projects and Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar. The Joint Commission meeting also agreed to expedite the early completion of remaining bilateral projects.
Noting that inundation is a serious problem for people living in border areas, the Joint Commission meeting agreed to take action on the recommendations made by a joint team comprising of officials from both side.
The two ministers, on the occasion, witnessed the signing and exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control of Nepal on food safety and standards. They also witnessed handing over of two cheques – for Tarai Roads Project and Post-earthquake Reconstruction Project.
Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of Rs 2.45 billion as reimbursement for housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts to chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyawali, and another cheque of IRs 80.71 crore – that is a part of India's commitment of IRs 500 crores – for strengthening road infrastructure in the Tarai Region to infrastructure secretary Devendra Regmi, on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Gyawali hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Indian counterpart and his delegation.
Dr Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu today to take part in the meeting, and is scheduled to depart for New Delhi tomorrow.
Before the meeting, Dr Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and discussed on various issues of mutual interests on the occasion. He is also paying a courtesy call to the President Bidya Devi Bhandari tomorrow morning.
The Nepal-India Joint Commission was founded in June 1987. Its meetings are held alternately in Nepal and India. But the last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in October 2016.
Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart minister of external affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective country.
During the meeting that started with opening remarks by the two foreign ministers, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with specific focus on the areas of connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources sectors, culture, and education, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Likewise, the two ministers, on the occasion, emphasised the importance of tourism in socio-economic development and agreed to enhance their cooperation in tourism sector, particularly in the context of Visit Nepal Year 2020. “Nepal on the occasion, requested for additional air entry routes to Nepal but India replied that discussion which are underway between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries will yield positive results,” according to an official at the meting.
The Joint Commission – being held after a long interval of three years – expressed happiness over the momentum generated in the overall aspects of Nepal-India relations following the exchange of high-level visits in the past two years. The visit of Dr Jaishankar, India’s newly appointed external affairs minister, is the first high-level visit from India since the reelection of Narendra Modi earlier this summer.
“The Joint Commission meeting also expressed satisfaction over progress in three new areas – Raxaul-Kathmandu Electrified Rail Line, Inland Waterways and New Partnership in Agriculture – agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Oli to India in April 2018,” the press note reads, adding that matters related to cooperation in international, regional and sub- regional fora were also discussed. “The meeting expressed happiness at the progress made in the bilateral projects like Motihari- Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline, four segments of Hulaki Roads, and post-earthquake reconstruction of private housing in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts which have been completed.”
They expressed happiness over progress made in Jayanagar-Janakpur and Jogbani-Biratnagar sections of cross-border railway projects and Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar. The Joint Commission meeting also agreed to expedite the early completion of remaining bilateral projects.
Noting that inundation is a serious problem for people living in border areas, the Joint Commission meeting agreed to take action on the recommendations made by a joint team comprising of officials from both side.
The two ministers, on the occasion, witnessed the signing and exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control of Nepal on food safety and standards. They also witnessed handing over of two cheques – for Tarai Roads Project and Post-earthquake Reconstruction Project.
Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of Rs 2.45 billion as reimbursement for housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts to chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyawali, and another cheque of IRs 80.71 crore – that is a part of India's commitment of IRs 500 crores – for strengthening road infrastructure in the Tarai Region to infrastructure secretary Devendra Regmi, on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Gyawali hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Indian counterpart and his delegation.
Dr Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu today to take part in the meeting, and is scheduled to depart for New Delhi tomorrow.
Before the meeting, Dr Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and discussed on various issues of mutual interests on the occasion. He is also paying a courtesy call to the President Bidya Devi Bhandari tomorrow morning.
The Nepal-India Joint Commission was founded in June 1987. Its meetings are held alternately in Nepal and India. But the last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in October 2016.
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