Nepal Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat arrived here today on a three-day visit to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Prachanda's visit to India this week, his first foreign trip after assuming office.
Mahat will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj tomorrow to prepare for the meeting between Prachanda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prachanda will embark on a four-day state visit to India from September 15 at the invitation of Modi. This would be Prachanda's first visit abroad after taking charge of the government last month, for the second time.
Ahead of his visit, Pranchanda has said: "I am confident that the visit (to India) would not only normalise the relations that went through some bitter experience in the recent past, but also build a strong foundation for mutual trust."
According to sources, the two sides will explore new areas of cooperation apart from reviewing status of bilateral ties.
Nepal-India ties had soured after months-long border blockade last year by ethnic minority protesters over the new Constitution which they claimed marginalised them.
Kathmandu then had accused India of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural, linguistic and family links with Indians across the border.
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