India, Nepal agree to expedite bilateral agreements

India today said it is committed to consolidating multi-party democracy in Nepal by helping it move ahead with the peace process even as the two sides agreed to expedite all bilateral agreements, including on infrastructure development here.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who is on a two-day visit here, met Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal and expressed confidence that the relations between the two countries will grow from "strength to strength".

"We (India) are committed to consolidating multi-party democracy in Nepal, moving ahead with the peace process and helping in (executing) developmental projects," Rao said after her 45-minute meeting with Nepal at his official residence here.

Rao said India and Nepal had signed various agreements during Nepal's visit to New Delhi last month and that both are working together closely to see how the joint venture projects are being implemented.

"I had very good meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal. We discussed the follow up to his very successful visit to India that generated a number of outcomes," she said.

Nepal also briefed Rao about the recent political developments in the country and underlined his commitment in taking the peace process to logical conclusion and drafting of constitution on time, Foreign Adviser to Prime Minister Rajan Bhattarai said.

Bhattarai said the two countries have agreed to expedite the agreements signed between them during the Prime Minister's visit.

"The two sides also discussed ways to check criminal activities in the border area, step up border security and to maintain coordination between the security agencies in the border area," Bhattarai said.

During the visit, India had agreed to construct sub-highways in the Terai, transmission lines in the border to supply electricity to Nepal during winter season, to conduct a study to conserve Bagmati river, he said.

"Nepal needs to import some 150 Mw electricity from India for winter season, when it suffers 15-16 hours daily load shedding. For that we need to increase the capacity of the transmission lines at least in three points," he said.

India has agreed to help construct one of three museums including Narayanhity Palace Museum being constructed in Kathmandu, he said.

Rao also held consultations with Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, Home Minister Bhim Rawal, senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.

Earlier, she visited the famous Pasupathinath Temple here where two Indian priests were trashed by Maoists a fortnight ago.