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."
The energy secretaries of the two countries have recently held discussions in the matters pertaining to opening energy bank for the benefit of the two countries, which is a positive development, he said.
The present relations between Nepal and India can be termed as the best at all time, claimed Infrastructure and Physical Planning Minister Raghubir Mahaseth.
He underlined the need to increase cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the areas of agriculture, development and infrastructure.
"Nepal and India are tied together with common bonds of history, culture, religion, language and economy since time immemorial and no one should create disturbance to spoil this age old close and friendly relations," said Anil Jha, a leader of Rastriya Janta Party Nepal.
"Both Nepal and India are facing the common problems of terrorism and cross border crimes and the two countries need to join hands to get rid of them and move forward on the path of prosperity," he pointed out.
The Madhesi leader, however, said the EPG report was prepared without the participation of Madhesi people, who reside in the border areas, therefore it is unacceptable to them.
"The report should be redrawn with the inclusion of representation from the Madhesi community people to make it acceptable to all," he pointed out.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjiv Singh Puri said Nepal and India have unique people-to-people relations and there is a need to nurture and strengthen these relations from time to time.
He said Birgunj Raxaul dry port recently constructed under Nepal India cooperation has been instrumental in boosting Nepal's trade as this trading point accounts for more than 50 per cent of the Himalayan country's total international trade, he said.
Other dry ports are under -construction in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj, with the assistance of India, he pointed out.
People-to-people contact between Nepal and India play an important role in strengthening and expanding bilateral ties between the two countries, Puri said.
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