Nepal wants friendly relations with neighbours:Gyawali

The relations between Nepal and India have been very cordial despite some small fractions from time to time, which is natural between two close neighbours, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said today.

Gyawali, who is also the senior leader of CPN-UML, said Nepal wants to develop friendly relations with its neighbours - India and China - on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

"There is no alternative but to forge close and friendly relations between the two neighbours," he said.

He also said that preparations have already started for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to India, his first foreign trip after assuming office early this year.

The tentative date for Oli's India visit has been fixed for April 6-8, though formal announcement is yet to be made.

The main objective of the high-level visit will be to make the bilateral relations contextual with the changing trends of the 21st century and it will be geared to gain financial benefit, Gyawali said.

During an interaction programme organised by Nepal-India Friendship Society, India's ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri presented a book on Yogic practices to Gyawali.

Gyawali also said that the Nepal government is committed to protect foreign investments.