Indian Foreign Secretary Misri cals on President Paudel

KATHMANDU: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is on an official visit to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel at the Presidential Palace, Sheetal Niwas.

During the meeting, President Paudel highlighted Nepal’s aspirations to benefit further from India’s progress as a close neighbor and partner.

“India, as an emerging global power, has made notable advancements in socio-economic and technological fields. As a friend and immediate neighbor, Nepal has already benefited from India’s progress and wishes to gain even more in the days ahead,” the President’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted him as saying.

President Paudel underscored the centuries-old social, cultural, religious, spiritual, economic, and people-to-people ties between Nepal and India.

He said the bilateral relationship is founded on sovereign equality, mutual respect, trust, and friendly cooperation.

“Nepal has always placed relations with India at the highest priority and appreciates the Indian government’s ‘Neighborhood First Policy,’ which accords special importance to relations with neighboring countries,” President Paudel stated.

Foreign Secretary Misri, on his part, conveyed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy of prioritizing relations with neighboring nations, Nepal occupies a place of high importance.

He further noted that his visit has provided an opportunity to discuss expanding connectivity in the modern era, as well as matters of mutual interest and concern, with relevant Nepali officials.