India and Nepal Strengthen Ties During Bilateral Talks

On August 19, 2024, the Foreign Ministers of India and Nepal engaged in comprehensive bilateral talks, focusing on the extensive partnership between the two nations. The discussions reviewed the progress of various initiatives and developmental projects while exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration in both existing and new areas.

India and Nepal, bound by deep historical, civilizational, cultural, and people-to-people connections, have experienced notable momentum in recent years through India-assisted projects in Nepal. This collaboration is particularly evident in connectivity projects, including cross-border railways, roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, petroleum pipelines, and digital financial infrastructure.

A significant highlight of the talks was the advancement in power sector cooperation. Nepal, now capable of exporting nearly 1,000 MW of electricity to India, benefits from increased revenue while supplying clean energy to its neighbor. The Foreign Ministers recognized the unprecedented opportunities presented by the Long-Term Power Trade Agreement to further this cooperation.

Sports emerged as another area of growing bilateral engagement. The recent training provided to the Nepali cricket team at India’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru was acknowledged as a positive development.

During her visit, Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss further strengthening cooperation across various sectors.

Dr. Deuba’s visit to India, from August 18-22, 2024, was at the invitation of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. This visit highlights Nepal’s priority status under India’s Neighbourhood First policy and continues the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two countries. The visit served as a platform to explore and identify new areas for advancing bilateral relations.