India visit was productive: FM Khanal
Minister Khanal said that his visit from Jestha 22 to 24 focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, economic partnership, connectivity, energy collaboration, water resources management, sports, and people-to-people relations.
KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said that his recent official visit to India marked productive and result-oriented discussions across multiple dimensions of bilateral relations between Nepal and India.
Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, Minister Khanal said that his visit from Jestha 22 to 24 focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, economic partnership, connectivity, energy collaboration, water resources management, sports, and people-to-people relations.
During high-level talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen bilateral ties and enhance strategic cooperation.
The discussions also covered shared security concerns, border management, and various aspects of strategic partnership between the two countries.
Minister Khanal noted that he also participated in an interaction organized by the India Foundation, where he highlighted Nepal’s foreign policy priorities and exchanged views on energy, trade, and border-related issues. Broader regional and international matters were also discussed during the visit.
A key outcome of the visit included several institutional and technical agreements. These include cooperation between Nepal’s NCHL and Indian counterparts on cross-border payment systems, development cooperation in post-earthquake reconstruction projects, and collaboration on digital public infrastructure.
This also involves a partnership between Kathmandu University School of Engineering and India’s Digital India initiative’s Bhashini Division for building AI-based language and digital platforms.
Minister Khanal also held a separate meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where issues related to regional stability and strategic cooperation were discussed.
He described the visit as a milestone in advancing Nepal–India diplomatic and economic relations, stating that it lays a strong foundation for result-oriented collaboration in the future.
“The visit has helped elevate Nepal–India cooperation to a new level, especially in trade, investment, energy, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people relations,” Khanal said.
He further emphasized Nepal’s balanced, independent, and multi-dimensional foreign policy stance, adding that discussions also touched on supply chain security, energy partnerships, and broader regional stability.
