Nepal benefited tremendously from its ties with India: Nepal PM Deuba

Deuba was the chief guest at the function held in Indian embassy in Kathmandu

Nepal has benefited tremendously from its "historic" ties with India and it seeks to further strengthen its bilateral relations with New Delhi, the Himalayan nation's Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said on Friday.

Deuba was speaking at a function held here to mark India's 70 years of independence and highlight its major achievements over the past seven decades.

The function hosted by India's ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri was also attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other dignitaries.

"Nepal has benefited tremendously from its historic ties with India," he said, adding that his government seeks to further strengthen the India-Nepal relations.

"I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi during my forthcoming visit to India," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Swaraj highlighted the strides made by India over the past 70 years of its Independence.

"India is not only the largest democracy in the world, but also a successful democracy," she said.

"In the past seven decades, there was not a single occasion when power was transferred through bullet instead of ballot paper," Swaraj said.

Highlighting the closest ties that bind India and Nepal, she underlined that India attached highest priority to its relationship with Nepal.

Deuba, who was the chief guest at the function held in Indian embassy in Kathmandu, complimented India for its achievements in various fields over the past 70 years.

CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Prachanda, Home Minister Janardan Sharma, Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala were among other over 250 dignitaries who attended the occasion.

During her two-day visit to the country, Swaraj participated in BIMSTEC-Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Kathmandu. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal are members of the BIMSTEC.

She also called President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Deuba and met other senior political leaders of Nepal.