President Mukherjee holds bilateral talks with Nepalese counterpart

President Pranab Mukherjee held a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Vidyadevi Bhandari at the Sheetal Niwas here on various regional, bilateral and international issues.

The President arrived in Nepal this afternoon on a three-day state visit to the country.

On his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), President Mukherjee was received by his Nepalese counterpart and was given a Guard of Honour by a troop of Nepal Army, reports the Himalayan Times.

A state banquet will also be hosted by President Bhandari this evening in honour of the visiting dignitary.

A public holiday has been announced by the government today in honour of the visiting President.

President Mukherjee is also scheduled to meet Nepal's Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today.

President Mukherjee, who will be visiting the Pashupatinath Temple, will also be attending a function hosted by the Kathmandu University to honour him with an honorary degree on November 3.

He will be delivering a speech at a seminar of Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan Nepal and India Foundation.

On November 4, President Mukherjee will visit Janakpur and Pokhara and will also perform a puja at the Janakpur-based Janaki Temple.

He will be returning India on the same day.

This is the first visit by an Indian President to Nepal in 18 years.