Swaraj meets Oli in Kathmandu

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Thursday and congratulated him on his party's victory in the recent elections in Kathmandu.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar took to Twitter to inform about the meeting.

"In her first engagement, EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Mr K.P Sharma Oli, Chairman of CPN-UML and congratulated him on his Party's victory in the recent elections. The two held wide ranging discussions on ways to take the special relationship between India and Nepal forward", he tweeted.

Swaraj is on a two-day official visit to Nepal in an effort to reach out to the country's political leadership ahead of the formation of a new government by a Communist alliance.

Addressing the media at Tribhuvan International airport, Swaraj said that her visit will strengthen the India-Nepal friendship.

Raveesh tweeted, "Delighted to visit Nepal - India's close friend. Our relationship is of such a nature that we don't need an excuse to visit each other. My visit to Nepal is to meet friends from all political parties and strengthen (India-Nepal) friendship".

Earlier today, Swaraj met Udaya Shumsher Rana, Minister of State (Finance) Nepal.

Swaraj will hold meetings with Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and outgoing Nepali prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

She will also meet with Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Madhesi leaders.

This is Swaraj's seventh visit to Nepal since assuming office in May 2014.