Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he and Nepalese counterpart have taken many important decisions to make “our partnership a super hit in the future.”…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that nine years after he had given a “HIT” formula for India-Nepal relations, several decisions have been taken between the two neighbouring nations to make the association a “superhit” in future.
“I remember nine years ago in 2014, I made my first visit to Nepal. At that time I had given a “HIT” formula for India-Nepal relations — Highways, I-ways, and Trans-ways. I had said that we will establish such contacts between India-Nepal that our borders do not become barriers between us,” Modi said while delivering a joint statement along with his visiting Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, after their bilateral discussions.
“Nepal’s Prime Minister and I have taken many important decisions to make our partnership a super hit in the future,” Modi added further.
The meeting between the two leaders took place at the Hyderabad House.
Prachanda, who is on a four-day visit to India, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Thursday morning.
This is his first official visit to a foreign country after assuming office in December last year.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation, the Nepalese leader arrived on Wednesday on a four-day official visit to India.
Border issues
PM Dahal has urged India to bilaterally resolve the lingering border issues between the nations.
“I urge PM Modi, to resolve the border issues with bilateral talks,” Prachanda said.
The Nepal Prime Minister’s comments were in the context of territorial disputes between the two countries over the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh tri-junction area, over which both the nations claim ownership.
He also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Nepal.
“I have extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Nepal. I look forward to welcoming him in Nepal,” Prachanda said during the joint press meet at Hyderabad House in Delhi.
Inked several pacts
Prime Minister Modi has said that several agreements have been signed between India and Nepal, focusing on enhancing physical connectivity, as well as cooperation in power and tourism sectors.
Addressing the media during a joint press conference with Prachanda after their bilateral meeting, Modi said: “We have established new rail links to increase physical connectivity. Long term power trade agreement has been established between India and Nepal today. This will give strength to the power sector of our countries.”
He further added that the religious and cultural ties between India and Nepal are very old and strong.
“To further strengthen this, we have decided that projects related to Ramayana Circuit should be expedited,” Modi added.
On his part, Prachanda said: “This is my fourth visit to India. The relationship between India and Nepal is age-old. Today we discussed over steps to strengthen the ties between both nations. We also jointly launched many groundbreaking projects.”
Modi and Prachanda virtually participated in the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony of various projects, giving boost to cross-border connectivity and flow of people, goods and energy.
Both leaders jointly unveiled the e-plaque of the Kurtha-Bijalpura section of the railway.
They also jointly flagged off the Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha to Nepal Custom yard.
They participated in the handing over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of railway line and also witnessed the inaugural run of an Indian railway cargo train from Bathnaha (India) to the Nepal Customs Yard.
The two Prime Ministers inaugurated inland container ports (ICPs) at Nepalgunj (Nepal) and Rupaidiha (India).
They also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of ICPs at Bhairahawa (Nepal) and Sonauli (India) and also in the groundbreaking ceremony of phase-II facilities under Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline.
Modi and Prachanda also virtually participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Indian portion of Gorakhpur-Bhutwal transmission line.