Nepal, India discuss bilateral issues

Nepal Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj about the agendas that Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be taking up during his visit to India starting Thursday.

During the meeting, Mahat brought development projects such as Pancheshwor and Hulaki Road among others to Swaraj's attention and laid stress on their early completion, reports the Kathmandu Post.

"Early completion of these pending projects would help create an environment of trust between the two countries," said Mahat adding that the new government's priority is enhancing bilateral relations on the basis of trust.

Mahat also urged the Indian side that the joint detailed project report of the Pancheshwor Development Project should be finalised at the earliest. Both sides agreed to expedite talks at the bureaucratic level to finalise disputes related to cost among others.

"The Indian side did not raise (Nepal's) political issue. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and development," he added.

Mahat arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit to set the stage for Prime Minister Dahal's visit, which is taking place just over a month after he assumed office.

"Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and deepen age-old, close and friendly ties in diverse sectors such as trade and mutual investments, defence and security, economic and development partnership, infrastructure development, energy and water resources, and forging connectivity to facilitate movement of goods and services, people and ideas," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement issued after the meeting.