The PM said, during the visit, India agreed to provide soft loan to Nepal for the commencement of the second-phase construction of a postal highway, construct cross-border transmission line connecting Butwal, 400 KV sub-stations at Dhalkebar and Hetauda, and a polytechnic in Kaski district.
On the sidelines of the visit, agreements were signed and exchanged on the utilisation of soft loan announced by India for Nepal’s post-reconstruction activities, on the revisions of the agreement on soft loan reached in the past and appointment of consultants for the commencement of first-phase construction of a postal highway, as briefed by the PM with media following his return from the four-day State visit to the southern neighbour.
Likewise, both sides agreed to accelerate the Power Trade Agreement (PTA) reached two years ago.
A bilateral agreement has been reached on finalising the Detailed Project Report DPR) of the Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project. Nepal was committed to fully utilising the assistance announced by India with an open heart in the post-quake reconstruction drive, he said.
During the visit, both sides discussed that control of cross border crimes and maintaining security along the Nepal-India border and No Man’s Land which are the mutual security interests of the two countries, he added.
Stating that an understanding was reached between the two countries to adopt further measures for strengthening trade and transit, Prime Minister Dahal said, “Discussion was also held to reduce increasing trade deficit with India.”
He further mentioned that discussion was held on giving priority to partnership of private sectors in both countries, saying participation of public and private sectors of India in industrialization and trade expansion of Nepal was also discussed.
During his sojourn in India, PM Dahal also visited Haridwar-based Patanjali Yogpeeth on Sunday before returning home.
Responding to a query, PM Dahal clarified that the relation of Nepal with India would not create distance with China as dimension of Nepal’s relation with India and China is different.
PM Dahal had embarked on India visit on September 15 leading a Nepali delegation at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He held high-level political meetings with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Modi, among others during his visit. He also held discussion on matters relating to the mutual interests and relation between both countries and signed three-point deal.
Prime Minister Dahal was accompanied by his spouse Sita Dahal, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak, among others. RSS
