Nepal Dy PM apprises India about priorities of Prachanda govt

Nepal today conveyed to India the steps being taken by Prime Minister Prachanda to promote political stability by resolving all contentious issues, besides initiatives to speed up post-earthquake reconstruction.
Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Special Envoy Bimalendra Nidhi, in a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, apprised her about the priorities of the new government
and appreciated India's goodwill and support to the peace process in the Himalayan nation.
Swaraj noted that India attaches the "highest priority" to its relations with Nepal, and offered full assistance and cooperation for Nepal's economic development.
Official sources said, in his meeting with Swaraj, Nidhi shared the vision and priorities of the new government, noting that implementation of the Constitution to promote political stability was a focus area.

"Discussions were very warm and cordial in accordance with the unique ties that India shares with Nepal," a source said.

The Madheshi issue figured in the meeting and the Nepalese envoy is understood to have conveyed to Swaraj that efforts are on to fulfil the demands of the community.
He told Swaraj that priority of the new government was to take the Constitution and peace process forward by addressing all issues through a process of consensus building between all major political parties, and focusing on post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.
Nidhi appreciated India's assistance for Nepal's economic development and emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral partnership in all areas, including development co-operation.

"Swaraj appreciated the initiative of Prime Minister Prachanda to send Nidhi as his Special Envoy to India. She said that India stands ready to work closely with Prachanda's government and to welcome him in India soon on a bilateral visit," the source said.
There was also a discussion on possible high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in the coming months, including the invitation to President Pranab Mukherjee to visit Nepal as well as a visit by Prachanda to India.
Earlier, Nidhi met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and also called on President Pranab Mukherjee.
In his meeting with Mukherjee, Nidhi reiterated the invitation to him extended by his Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari to visit Nepal at his "earliest convenience".

"Dates for these visits will be worked out through diplomatic channels," said the source.
The visit of special envoy Nidhi is the first high-level visit from Nepal to India after the formation of the new government in Nepal under Prachanda.