Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Thursday resolved to resolve the vexing border dispute in a spirit of friendship, even as the two sides signed several key agreements, one of which was the transfer of electricity from the neighboring country to New Delhi. This includes increasing the import of 10,000 MW in the next 10 years from the present 450 MW.
In wide-ranging talks between Modi and Prachanda, the Indian side agreed to the first trilateral power trade from Nepal to Bangladesh through India for 40 MW of power, a move hailed as a significant step towards ensuring greater regional cooperation. is seen in
In his media statement, Modi said both sides will continue to strive to take the India-Nepal partnership to “Himalayan heights” and the key decisions taken in the talks are to make the relationship a ‘superhit’ in the future.
In total, the two sides signed seven treaties, including a revised treaty of transit, which was described by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra as a “once in a generation agreement”, as it allowed Nepal to enter India for the first time. Will provide access to inland waterways of and is expected to make a significant contribution to the expansion of trade and investment ties.
The two sides signed several new agreements to expand cooperation in the areas of hydro-electric power, petroleum infrastructure, railway connectivity, cross-border payment systems and trade and investment, as part of a futuristic approach to strengthen the overall trajectory of the relationship. Also confirmed the initiative.
“We will continue to strive to take our relations to the heights of the Himalayas. And in this spirit, we will resolve all issues, be it border or any other,” Modi said in his media statement in the presence of Prachanda.
In his remarks, the Nepali prime minister, who arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day visit to India, said he and Modi discussed the border issue. “I urge Prime Minister Modi ji to resolve the border issue through established bilateral diplomatic mechanisms,” he said.
Relations between the two countries came under severe strain in 2020 after Kathmandu published a new political map that showed three Indian territories – Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh – as part of Nepal.
India reacted sharply, calling it a “unilateral action” and cautioned Kathmandu that such an “artificial expansion” of territorial claims would not be acceptable to it.
When asked at a media briefing about the border dispute, Foreign Secretary Kwatra referred to the comments of the two prime ministers and said that they not only talk about the intent of the two leaders and the two systems, but also the nuances that they I also talk through those through whom they are intended. Let it be carried forward.
To a question whether the issue of China figured in the talks, he said the discussion also included broader developments and challenges and how the two countries should cooperate to mitigate them.
“I remember nine years ago, in 2014, within three months of taking office, I made my first trip to Nepal. At that time I had given ‘HIT’ formula for India-Nepal relations, HIT- Highway, I-way and Trans-way.
Modi further said, “Today, after nine years, I am happy to say that our partnership has indeed been a ‘hit’. In the last nine years, we have made many achievements in various fields.
The Prime Minister also referred to the religious and cultural ties between India and Nepal, saying they are very old and very strong.
He said, ‘To further strengthen this beautiful link, Prime Minister Prachanda ji and I have decided to speed up the projects related to Ramayana circuit.’
After the talks, Modi and Prachanda remotely unveiled the Kurtha-Bijalpura section of the railway line, virtually flagged off a goods train from Bathnaha (India) to the Nepal Customs Yard and integrated checkposts at Nepalgunj in Nepal and Rupaidiha on the Indian side (ICP) was inaugurated. ,
He remotely attended the ground breaking ceremony of ICPs at Bhairahawa (Nepal) and Sonauli (India) for construction of Phase-II facilities under the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline as well as the Indian portion of the Gorakhpur-Bhutwal transmission line started the project. ,
“Last year we adopted a landmark vision document for cooperation in the power sector. Taking this forward, today a long-term power trade agreement has been signed between India and Nepal. Under this, we have set a target of importing 10,000 MW power from Nepal in the coming ten years.
Presently India imports about 450 MW of power from Nepal.
Talking about the transit agreement, Modi said that along with new rail routes, provision has also been made to facilitate India’s inland waterways.
Modi also referred to the landmark vision document adopted by India and Nepal on the power sector.
“Taking this forward, today a long-term electricity trade agreement has been signed between India and Nepal. Under this agreement, we have set a target of importing 10,000 MW of power from Nepal in the coming 10 years.
“Cooperation in the power sector has been further strengthened by agreements on the Phukot-Karnali and Lower Arun hydro-electric projects,” he said.
In his remarks, Modi also talked about cooperation in the petroleum infrastructure sector.
In view of the positive impact of the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline, it has been decided to take this pipeline up to Chitwan. In addition, another new pipeline will also be built from Siliguri to Jhapa in eastern Nepal.
Along with this, new storage terminals will also be set up at Chitwan and Jhapa. We have also agreed on mutual cooperation to set up a fertilizer plant in Nepal.
According to Kwatra, India decided to fund three major transmission corridors in Nepal under a line of credit of about USD 680 million.
In his remarks, Prachanda said he and Modi “comprehensively reviewed” the progress in ties and renewed their commitment to further strengthen ties and cooperation.
The Nepalese prime minister said that he appreciated Modi’s “neighbourhood first policy”.
“The relations between Nepal and India are age-old and multi-faceted. This relationship stands on a solid foundation built by a rich tradition of civilizational, cultural and socio-economic ties on the one hand and firm commitment of both countries to the time-tested principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, understanding on the other. and cooperation,” he said.
He said the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in various areas, including trade, transit, investment, hydropower, power trading, irrigation, power transmission lines, expansion of petroleum pipeline, construction of integrated check posts, and land and air connectivity. discussed.
“We are happy to see the remarkable transformation of India’s economic and development landscape under the able leadership of PM Modi. Prachanda said, “I congratulate PM Modi on the completion of nine years of the government with far-reaching achievements on many fronts.”
Later in a tweet, Modi described his talks with Prachanda as “fruitful”.
“PM @cmprachanda and I had productive talks on the progress in India-Nepal relations over the past few years and ways to deepen this cooperation even further. Key areas such as commerce, energy, culture and infrastructure figured prominently in the discussions.
Nepal is important to India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the centuries-old “Roti Beti” relationship.
The country shares a border of over 1850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Landlocked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transport of goods and services.
Nepal’s access to the sea is through India, and it imports a major proportion of its requirements from and through India.
The Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the basis of the special relationship between the two countries.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,