Nepal's special envoy calls on Modi

Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who is visiting India as a special envoy after a new government came into power in the Himalayan nation, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday.

"Engaging the new government in Nepal. Deputy PM Bimalendra Nidhi calls on PM @narendramodi," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet along with pictures of the two leaders.

This is the first high-level visit from Nepal to India after the new Maoist-led government headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" took charge in Kathmandu earlier this month.

Nidhi, who is on a four-day visit to India, on Friday called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Sushma Swaraj assured Nidhi that India would work closely with the new Nepali government.

She emphasised that India attached the highest priority to its relations with Nepal, and offered full assistance and cooperation for the country's economic development.

Nidhi, who is also Nepal's Minister for Home Affairs, called on President Pranab Mukherjee and reiterated President Bidya Devi Bhandari's invitation to visit the Himalayan nation.

After coming to power, the new Maoist-led government said Nepal wanted to further strengthen bilateral relations with both India and China.

While Nidhi from the Nepali Congress was deputed to visit India as special envoy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara of Prachanda's Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) visited Beijing earlier this week.

--IANS

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