Have agreed to move collectively with India to address security concerns: Nepal PM Dahal

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday said that he had a very fruitful meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to address the security concerns and t they have decided to move forward collectively.

"Today I had a very fruitful meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the security concerns of both the countries and committed to move forwards collectively," Dahal said at an interactive session.

On being asked about how he plans to maintain a balanced relationship with both India and China, Dahal said that he has already taken the initiative for the same by sending his special envoys to the two countries.

"I have already taken initiatives for a balanced relationship by sending special envoy to India and China," said Dahal.

He had earlier sent his Deputy Prime Ministers Bimalendra Nidhi and Krishna Bahadur Mahara as special envoys to India and China to maintain cordial relations with the neighbours.

On being asked about disputes with China and reports of Chinese leaders not visiting Nepal, Dahal said, "We don't have any dispute with China. Talks for high level visits with China are still ongoing and we hope a decision will be made soon."

Dahal, who today completed the final leg of his three day visit to India met with many Indian leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and many others.

In these meetings, he expressed willingness to explore newer areas of mutual cooperation and partnerships between both nations, while adding that his visit to India demonstrates the importance that the government of Nepal attaches to its relations with New Delhi.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dahal stated that his visit to India demonstrates the importance that the Government of Nepal attaches to relations with India as the two countries share an ancient, deep-rooted and vibrant friendship based on a shared cultural and civilizational ethos.

He also thanked the Indian Government for the prompt and extensive assistance provided to Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of April 25 and May12, 2015.

According to the joint statement, both Dahal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted the progress in promoting sub-regional cooperation, and agreed that the two governments should explore ways to further enhance it, particularly in the areas of trade, transit, connectivity and power.

They also stressed the importance of enhancing regional cooperation within the framework of the SAARC and the BIMSTEC.

The two heads also noted that the first meeting of the Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations was held in Kathmandu in July 2016, and hoped that the Group would work intensively and look into the totality of India-Nepal relations from independent perspective and suggest measures to consolidate and further expand the close and multi-faceted ties between the two countries.

Sharing developments in Nepal with Prime Minister Modi, Dahal said that the promulgation of the Constitution last year is a historic event in institutionalizing federal democratic republic.

He also shared the efforts made by the present Government to take all sections of Nepali society on board for the effective implementation of the constitution.