Empowering Partnerships With Neighbours : EAM Jaishankar’s Two-Days Visit to Nepal

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Prasad traveled to pay a visit to Nepal to join the seventh Nepal – India Joint Commission Meeting on Thursday, January 4, 2024. The meeting will be held with his Nepalese counterpart which will include reviewing the overall bilateral ties. 

The two days long meeting with Nepalese counterpart N.P. Saud marks Mr. Jaishankar’s first international visit in 2024. This is also his first trip after Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ got announced as the P.M. of Nepal for the third time in December 2022. “Namaste Kathmandu. Happy to be back in Nepal for my first visit of 2024. Looking forward to the engagements over the next two days.”- read Jaishankar’s post on X. 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s Two Days Visit To Nepal

The meeting is reported to be focussing on necessary steps that need to be taken to strengthen relations between India and Nepal in the upcoming days. This would help in mutual benefits for both nations through nurturing healthy partnerships. The overall agenda is to review the all-in-all working systems of India-Nepal relations. 

“Nepal is a priority partner of India under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of high level exchanges between two close and friendly neighbors,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi. Established in 1987, the India-Nepal Joint Commission provides a common place for both the countries to talk about all aspects of their bilateral partnership.

As per a decision taken mutually by the leaderships in June 2023, both sides are reported to sign an agreement on modalities, facilitating Nepal in exporting 10,000 megawatts(MW) of power to India in the next 10 years. 

In June 2023, ‘Prachanda’ paid a visit to New Delhi, during which both the leaderships signed several pacts including one which asked for increasing the supply of power to 10,000 MW from the present 450 MW.

Among other important topics, discussions will also be held on connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, water resources, culture and education, as per The Kathmandu Times. “We are planning to ink two agreements and are going to inaugurate three cross-border transmission lines.”- N.P. Saud stated.

The Nepal-India relationships have been prevalent for a long time, in context of their overall strategic interests in the region, wherein the leaders have also noted the age-old ‘Roti-Beti’ relationship.

During his two day stay in Nepal, Mr. Jaishankar will pay a visit to President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister of Nepal, as per the statements of the Foreign Minister. He will also meet officials of other senior authorities of political interest. Nepal EAM Saud will also host a dinner in honor of Mr. Jaishankar and members of his delegation.  

The harmonious and cordial relationships between India and Nepal rose as a result of the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950. These bonds are characterized by open borders and enduring kinship and cultural exchanges. 

On Friday, Jaishankar is expected to return to India after cutting the ribbon on a library that was constructed with help from India. The oldest institution in Nepal, Tribhuvan University, is located in Kirtipur, where the library is located.