Nepal PM arrives on first foreign visit tomorrow

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21

Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive here on Wednesday, his first visit abroad after assuming the office in June. His spouse Arzu Deuba will accompany him during the four-day visit that shall offer an opportunity for both countries to deliberate on a host of issues of mutual interest.

The visit comes amid the two-month stand-off between India and China at Doklam and in the backdrop of recent visit of Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang to Kathmandu.

Ahead of PM Deuba’s travel to India, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara told a press conference back home that 

Nepal wanted military standoff between the two of its big neighbours to resolve in a peaceful manner and Kathmandu did not wish to be dragged into the boundary dispute.

“In recent years, the India-Nepal partnership has witnessed a significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to both the sides for holding wide-ranging discussions on issues of mutual interest, and advancing age old, special ties of friendship,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a release announcing the visit. 

A high-level delegation is accompanying Prime Minister Deuba who, besides holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will call on President Ram Nath Kovind while the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary.