Key Takeaways
- PM Modi and Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli met in New York to discuss bilateral relations and strengthen ties.
- The two leaders focused on energy, technology, and trade, with a goal of enhancing connectivity and cooperation.
- Nepal’s membership in the International Solar Alliance is a significant development, and PM Modi congratulated Nepal on this achievement.
New York/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli in New York, in their first meeting since Oli took over as prime minister for the fourth time in July, with their talks focusing on energy, technology and trade.
In a post on X, the PM said:
“Had a very good meeting with Prime Minister KP Oli in New York. The India-Nepal friendship is very robust and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology and trade.”
The Nepal PM in a post said he had a fruitful meeting with PM Modi.
“Had a fruitful meeting with the Prime Minister of India Shri @narendramodi ji on the sidelines of #UNGA79.
During the meeting, various matters of bilateral relations were discussed.”
An Indian readout said, the two prime ministers met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Sunday.
The two leaders reviewed the unique and close bilateral relationship between India and Nepal. They expressed satisfaction at the progress made in development partnership, hydropower cooperation, and people-to-people ties. India and Nepal are also working to enhance connectivity in the physical, digital, and energy domains.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Nepal on becoming the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member, and underlined the importance of a regional response to the challenge of climate change.
Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First Policy. This meeting continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of our Neighbourhood First policy, it said.
The Kathmandu Post quoted Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who was present at the meeting, as saying that Prime Minister Modi expressed his intention to visit Nepal soon.
“Modi said he will visit Nepal shortly, and both leaders agreed to activate bilateral mechanisms to address various issues,” she said after the meeting.
Prime Minister Oli described the talks as positive during a brief interaction with the media following the meeting.
Nepal’s delegation included Prime Minister Oli, Foreign Minister Rana, Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Bishnu Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Amrit Kumar Rai.
On the Indian side, PM Modi was accompanied by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Rai said the talks helped to further strengthen the trust between the two countries.
