India and Nepal fortified their bilateral ties with a set of agreements signed during the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on his first foreign visit in 2024, held a “comprehensive and productive” meeting with Nepalese counterpart NP Saud, covering diverse areas such as trade, connectivity projects, defense, security, and more.
The discussions delved into the overall bilateral relationship between the two countries, emphasizing key sectors like economic ties, land, rail, and air connectivity projects, cooperation in defense and security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people exchanges, cultural ties, and development partnership.
As part of the outcomes, India and Nepal exchanged agreements on the implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects, Long Term Power Trade, Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development, Munal Satellite, and the handover of the 5th tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply. Additionally, the leaders jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines, marking significant progress in regional connectivity.
The visit included meetings with Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ where substantive views were exchanged on the unique and multifaceted Nepal-India relations. Jaishankar conveyed warm wishes from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Prime Minister Prachanda.
Nepal holds strategic importance for India, aligning with its overall interests in the region. The age-old “Roti Beti” relationship has been a consistent theme in the diplomatic ties between the two nations. With a border stretching over 1,850 km across five Indian states, Nepal heavily relies on India for the transportation of goods and services.
The leaders discussed a spectrum of thematic areas, reflecting the comprehensive nature of their engagement. Economic relations, connectivity, trade and transit, power and water resources, education and culture, and political matters were among the focal points. The agreements signed further solidify cooperation in critical sectors, setting the stage for enhanced collaboration.
In June, during Prime Minister ‘Prachanda’s’ visit to New Delhi, both nations signed several significant pacts. One key agreement aimed at increasing India’s power import from Nepal to 10,000 MW in the next decade, a substantial leap from the current 450 MW.
The strengthened bilateral ties underscore the commitment of India and Nepal to fostering mutual cooperation, emphasizing shared goals and regional stability. The agreements pave the way for joint efforts in addressing common challenges, promoting economic development, and ensuring the well-being of their citizens. The collaborative initiatives contribute to the broader narrative of diplomatic engagements, fostering enduring relationships in the South Asian region.
