Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra held a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal here on February 28.
Lamsal was in India on her maiden visit to attend the 8th Asia Economic Dialogue 2024 organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Pune International Centre from February 29 to March 4 in Pune.
During the meeting, the two Foreign Secretaries held discussions on the entire range of multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal and also followed up on the 7th IndiaNepal Joint Commission Meeting which was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Nepal NP Saud, in Kathmandu last month.
This exchange flows from the time-honoured tradition of reciprocal high-level dialogues between the two neighbours. Also, it underscores India’s commitment to fortifying its ties with Nepal under the aegis of the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, heralding a fresh chapter in the annals of bilateral relations.
Extending a warm reception to Lamsal on February 27, India’s EAM S Jaishankar expressed satisfaction at the progressive trajectory of bilateral relations, a sentiment echoed in his social media post, affirming the strides made in various facets of collaboration. “Happy to receive Foreign Secretary @sewa_lamsal of Nepal today in Delhi. Pleased to hear from her about progress in various aspects of our bilateral relations” wrote Jaishankar.
The 8th Asia Economic Dialogue had the theme ‘Geo-economic Challenges in an Era of Flux’. With 46 speakers from 11 nations, the Dialogue was a testament to the enduring spirit of multilateral engagement.
Against the backdrop of shared history and cultural affinities, the ties between India and Nepal resonate uniquely, underscored by an open border and deepseated people-to-people connections. The bedrock of this special relationship finds expression in the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950, a cornerstone that enshrines the bonds of kinship and cooperation.
