Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli termed his recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "extremely fruitful and positive," after the two leaders met on the margins of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit on Friday in Bangkok.
Posting on X (ex-Twitter), PM Oli tweeted, "I had a friendly meeting with my good friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Our discussion was highly productive and optimistic. I convey my delight over this friendly meeting."
India still looks up to Nepal as a key neighbour under its 'Neighbourhood First' initiative. The Bangkok meeting placed yet another entry into the two countries' frequent high-level interactions, with the two leaders pledging their commitment towards further solidifying the expansive bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Modi also reacted to the meeting through X, where he said, "Had a fruitful meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Bangkok. India places very high importance on its relations with Nepal. We exchanged views on various dimensions of India-Nepal friendship, particularly in areas such as energy, connectivity, culture, and digital technology. We also exchanged views on some of the most significant positive developments from this year's BIMSTEC Summit, particularly in the areas of disaster management and maritime transport."
In a statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders were pleased with the progress made in enhancing physical and digital connectivity, enhancing people-to-people contacts, and increasing cooperation in the energy sector. Their last meeting was during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York last year.
A Nepali foreign ministry official, speaking to the local press ahead of the meeting, expressed hope that this latest engagement would open the door for Oli’s much-anticipated official bilateral visit to India.
India and Nepal have deep cultural and civilisational ties, complemented by intimate people-to-people relations. India is Nepal's largest development partner, providing significant grant-based support to key infrastructure projects, especially in areas of key sectors like health, education, and transport connectivity—crucial for Nepal's development process.
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