Nepal-India relations need to be nurtured, updated: Nepali leaders

Nepal and India should be sensitive towards each others' concerns and they should cooperate with each other to move forward on the path of mutual interest, senior Nepali leaders said on Friday.

Talking to reporters here on the eve of India's Republic Day, the leaders also called for the early adoption and implementation of the Eminent Persons' Group's report (EPG) on Nepal-India relations to further strengthen the ties.

Senior leader of Nepali Congress and former Finance Minister Ramsharan Mahat said the bilateral relations should contribute towards attaining economic prosperity for Nepal.

"Nepal has a huge trade deficit with India and to reduce the deficit Nepal should increase its export to India which requires favourable laws and agreements," Mahat said.

"India's Republic Day is an important event for those countries that have gained freedom from colonialism," said Mahat.

The report prepared by the EPG of the two countries is an important step taken towards making bilateral relations updated and timely, he pointed out, adding there is a need to implement the report at the earliest.

The EPG was formed in 2016 by the governments of Nepal and India for reviewing the entire gamut of Nepal-India relations and update bilateral agreements and treaties, including the Nepal-India Friendship Treaty 1950.

"I congratulate the government and people of India on this occasion and also extend best wishes that India could move forward as a prosperous nation," he said.

Nepal and India enjoy close people-to-people relations since time immemorial that needs to be updated and consolidated from time to time and the EPG report was prepared towards fulfilling the objective, said former Nepal' ambassador to India Bahadur Thapa.

"We are eagerly waiting for early adoption and implementation of the EPG report which will certainly add new dimension in existing bilateral relations," he remarked.

Intellectuals of both the countries have shown keen interest in the report which is a common document prepared through consensus after holding wide range of discussions and debate between eminent persons of both the countries, he pointed out.

"The implementation of the report will certainly strengthen and improve relations between the two countries," he said.

"Nepal and India should be sensitive towards each others issues and they should cooperate with each other to move forward on the path of mutual interest," said former Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Chandra Lohani.

There are immense possibilities and opportunities between the two countries which need to be explored for the benefit of the two countries, Lohani said.

"Nepal is economically backward but so far we have not been able to take adequate benefit from our bilateral relations," he pointed out, adding "India's help and cooperation is important for Nepal's development."