India considers Nepal as priority in its foreign policy

India today emphasized that it considers Nepal to be as one of the high priority areas in its foreign policy during External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj's official trip to the Himalayan nation.

"Principal message in all her (Sushma Swaraj's) engagements today was to emphasise to the Nepali leadership that the new government is very keen to impart renewed momentum to our multifaceted bilateral relations. In all her meetings , she said, "India considers Nepal to be a high priority in our foreign policy. We desire to nurture this relationship with regular exchanges including through high level political contacts," MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin said in a press conference.

"External Affairs Minister who is on her first visit to Nepal had a very busy but fruitful and extremely satisfying day of discussions with the Nepali leadership. From our perspective this visit signals the importance that we place on our relationship with our neighbours in general with Nepal in particular," he added.

"The External Affairs Minister had decided to make Nepal amongst one of her first visits, despite the parliament being in session to highlight the importance that India places Nepal as a priority area," he further added.

While referring to the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to Nepal next month, he said that the Nepalese leadership have expressed their high expectations from that trip, hoping that it will lead to the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.

"It's been 17 years since an Indian prime minister visited Nepal on a bilateral visit. The prime minister of India will be visiting Nepal within two and a half months or less than that after assuming office. This is despite the fact that he is also scheduled to come here again on a multilateral visit for the SAARC summit on November," he said.

On the issue of Nepal drafting its constitution, the MEA spokesperson added: "That is for the people of Nepal to work out solutions that they feel are best for them. They may decide structures, formats. India's hope is that all work for an inclusive constitution whose ownership is accepted by all and it accommodates the desires of all.