KATHMANDU

A bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to be held here this afternoon would focus on the construction of hydropower projects, development of physical infrastructure of Nepal and expansion of connectivity. In the bilateral talks to be held between the delegations headed by both the Prime Ministers, matters related to overall mutual benefits and interests as well as enhancement of trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people relations would be widely discussed.

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told RSS that the agendas related to development assistance for infrastructure development of education and health sectors, trade facilitation, mutual benefits, collaboration and partnership promotion would be emphatically raised in the talks. Nepal’s Ambassador to India Shanker Prasad Sharma told RSS that PM Deuba’s recent-past India visit and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed on the occasion would be reviewed.

Likewise, ideas would be exchanged on exploring measures to be adopted for the speedy implementation of the projects and initiatives, Sharma further explained. “I am hopeful that the agendas related to education, health, connectivity expansion and partnership strengthening in cultural sector would take the centre stage in the talks”, Ambassador Sharma added.

According to the MOFA, the PM Deuba-led delegation comprises ministers for home, foreign affairs, physical infrastructure and transport, energy, culture, tourism and civil aviation, education, science and technology, chief secretary, foreign secretary and Ambassador Sharma among others. Likewise, PM Modi-led Indian delegation comprises foreign secretary, joint-secretaries of ministry of external affairs and Kathmandu-based Charge d’ affaires of Indian Embassy Namgya Khampa.