May 17: Nepal and India discussed multiple issues of bilateral relations and cooperation and also exchanged memorandum of understandings (MoU) during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lumbini, Nepal on Monday (May 16).    

The Indian premier paid an official visit to Lumbini on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti festival at the invitation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.    

Prime Minister Deuba and his spouse Arzu Rana Deuba warmly welcomed Indian Prime Minister Modi on his arrival at Lumbini helipad on Monday morning. Federal ministers, chief minister of the Lumbini Province, Nepal’s Ambassador to India and other senior officials of the government were also present on the occasion.    

 According to a press statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, the Indian Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation consisting of the national security Advisor of India, foreign secretary and other senior officials of the government of India.    

According to the ministry, the two prime ministers held bilateral talks in Lumbini and recalled the fruitful discussions they had in New Delhi during the official visit of Prime Minister Deuba to India on April 1-3, 2022.

During the bilateral talks, the two prime ministers had a broad overview of Nepal-India cooperation and matters of mutual interests with a view to further enhancing the close and cordial ties between the two countries.    

Prime Minister Deuba thanked Modi for India’s assistance in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and also expressed gratitude for India’s support in the post-earthquake reconstruction.    

 “The two sides discussed promoting cooperation in connectivity; early supply of fertilizers; expeditious conclusion of the revised Transit Treaty, its Protocols and Memorandum; review of the treaty of trade; additional air entry routes; hydropower generation; culture and tourism including Buddhist circuit and Ramayana circuit; education and academic collaboration; increasing the threshold of carrying Indian currency by individuals; and cooperation at regional and multilateral forums in matters of mutual interest,” reads the statement.    

Other issues featured during the discussion were infrastructure development including the dry port and integrated check posts in Chandani Dodhara as well as bridges linking Purnagiri Mai of Uttarakhand, India and Parshuram Dham in Dadeldhura, Nepal; and Jhulaghat over Mahakali river.    

On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba requested the Indian PM Modi to consider constructing Motigada-Fattepur-Rampur Road in Udaypur district of Nepal under Indian grant assistance. In the context of official inauguration and commencement of commercial operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport, Prime Minister Deuba highlighted that the airport would further facilitate connectivity, cultural linkages, and people-to-people movements and promote cultural tourism. He also requested the additional air entry routes from Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and Janakpur.    

In response, Indian PM Modi assured that authorities concerned of India would take up the matters raised by the Prime Minister Deuba. Deuba also requested for seamless power trade on a long-term basis under mutually beneficial terms.    

The two sides expressed satisfaction that Arun III project was progressing well and welcomed the signing and exchange of MoU between Nepal Electricity Authority and SJVN Ltd. India for the development of Arun-IV hydropower project.    

The two prime ministers stressed the importance of hydropower for clean energy and noted that immense potential exists for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in hydropower sector, the statement added. Prime Minister Deuba invited interested companies from India such as NHPC for the development of West Seti Hydroelectricity project. The two Prime Ministers agreed to take up the Pancheswor Project with priority.    

Before holding the discussions, the prime ministers of Nepal and India visited the sacred Mayadevi Temple and offered worship at the birthplace of the Lord Gautam Buddha, who is regarded as the Light of Asia for preaching non-violence throughout the continent.

On the occasion, the two prime ministers laid the foundation stone for the construction of the India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage at the Lumbini Monastic Zone.     In their address during a special ceremony organized by the Lumbini Development Trust, the two prime ministers highlighted the importance of Buddha’s teachings of peace, harmony, and mutual respect.    

PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart also witnessed the exchange of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) related to cooperation and collaboration in academic field and power sector.    

Indian PM Modi returned home in the afternoon upon successfully completing the visit to Lumbini on the pious day of Buddha Jayanti. Prime Minister Deuba, his spouse Arzu Rana Deuba, ministers and senior officials of the government bade farewell to the Indian PM.    

The ministry said that the official visit of Prime Minister Modi to Lumbini, Nepal has contributed in deepening the socio-cultural bonds and cooperation between Nepal and India.

Earlier, the MoFA had issued a statement saying it was the fifth visit of Modi to Nepal after becoming the prime minister of India.