New Delhi/Kathmandu: After completing his fruitful visit to Nepal, External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India Dr. S. Jaishankar returned to India on January 5.
EAM Jaishankar embarked for Kathmandu on January 04 at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Nepal N.P. Saud for co chairing the 7th meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission.
The India-Nepal Joint Commission was established in 1987 and provides a platform for both Ministers to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership.
EAM Jaishankar was accorded a warm welcome by Foreign Minister of Nepal N.P. Saud on January 4. Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other senior officials from Nepal also welcomed EAM at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu.
Posting on X, EAM Jaishankar wrote:
"नमस्ते काठमाडौँ
Happy to be back in Nepal for my first visit of 2024. Looking forward to the engagements over the next two days."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal also wrote on X:
External Affairs Minister of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, arrived in Kathmandu today in connection with the 7th Meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission. He was accorded a warm welcome by Hon Foreign Minister @NPSaudnc. Foreign Secretary and other senior officials also welcomed EA Minister at TIA, Kathmandu .
During his two-day visit (from 04-05 January 2024), EAM Jaishankar met President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel and conveyed him the warm greetings of President of India Droupadi Murmu.
Taking X, President of Nepal posted:
"Rt. Hon. President Mr. Ramchandra Paudel received a courtesy call from S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, today at the Office of the President."
EAM also met Prime Minister of Nepal and Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda and conveyed him the warm wishes of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Jaishankar also recalled his successful visit to India in June 2023 which has imparted a new momentum to our ties. They also discussed the follow-up, including through the Joint Commission Meeting.
Prime Minister of Nepal also wrote on X:
"Glad to welcome Hon. @DrSJaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, at my office, Singhadurbar. Exchanged substantive views on age-old, unique, and multifaceted Nepal-India relations."
https://x.com/cmprachanda/status/1742826675577249833?s=20
The Seventh Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission was held in Kathmandu on January 4. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal N.P. Saud and Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective delegations.
During the meeting of the Joint Commission, both sides reviewed all aspects of bilateral relations as well as areas of cooperation including connectivity, infrastructure development, economic partnership, trade, transit, investment, power, water resources, culture, tourism, sports, health and education.
The fifth tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply provided by the Government of India to the Government of Nepal was handed over remotely. The tranche consists of prefabricated houses, tents and other relief materials.
EAM Jaishankar wrote on X:
"Co-chaired with my counterpart FM @NPSaudnc a comprehensive and productive meeting of the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission. Discussions focused on our overall bilateral ties, trade & economic relations, land, rail & air connectivity projects, cooperation in defense & security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people & cultural exchanges and development partnership.
Witnessed exchange of agreements on :
➡ Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects
➡ Long Term Power Trade
➡ Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development
➡ Munal Satellite
➡ Handover of 5th tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply.
Also jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mr. Narayan Prakash Saud and Minister for External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar held bilateral meeting in Kathmandu on January 4.
https://x.com/MofaNepal/status/1742822908827943161?s=20
India and Nepal expressed satisfaction over mutual support in the regional, sub-regional and multilateral forums on the issues of common interests. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal mentioned about the issues of additional air entry routes and floods and inundation.
"The Joint Commission expressed happiness over the momentum generated in further consolidating Nepal-India relations following the meetings held between the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India in 2022 and 2023", Foreign Ministry of Nepal said in its statement on January 4.
"The Joint Commission expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the Government of India assisted post-earthquake reconstruction in housing, education, health and culture heritage sectors in Nepal", Foreign Ministry of Nepal also said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Minister of External Affairs of India remotely inaugurated the 132 kV cross border transmission lines between Nepal and India, namely the second circuit of Raxaul- Parwanipur line, the second circuit of Kataiya- Kusaha line and the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya lines.
On the first day, EAM also met former PMs of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba, K P Sharma Oli, Madhav Kumar Nepal.
EAM also interacted with members of the Nepal Cricket team and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
EAM congratulated them on qualifying for the T20 World Cup. EAM also assured them of India's support in their preparations.
EAM also underlined bilateral commitment to the growth of cricket in Nepal.
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1742940374182805883?s=20
EAM also met a Nepalese politician and President of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal Mahantha Thakur, Chairman of Central Committee Socialist Party Upendra Yadav and Nepalese Member of Parliament (MP) Chandra Kant Raut (CK Raut). They discussed further improve bilateral and development cooperation between two countries.
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1742939743053398484?s=20
Another day of his vist, on January 5, EAM Jaishankar visited one of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal "Pashupatinath Temple" and prayed for the well being of the people of two countries.
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1743116341090132476?s=20
EAM Jaishankar and his Counterpart from Nepal Saud jointly inaugurated the Tribhuvan University Central Library New Building and other post-earthquake reconstruction projects.
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1743133347310887117?s=20
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal also posted on X:
"Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. N.P. Saud and Minister for External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar jointly inaugurated this morning Tribhuvan University Central Library building, constructed with Government of India's grant assistance. The two Ministers also inaugurated virtually 58 post earthquake reconstruction projects completed under Indian assistance. The projects comprise of educational institutions, health facilities and cultural heritage."
https://x.com/MofaNepal/status/1743148333370409319?s=20
Taking X, EAM also wrote:
"Joined my colleague FM @NPSaudnc at the inauguration of Tribhuvan University Central Library, 25 schools, 32 health facilities and culture sector project. Concrete delivery of the commitments made by PM @narendramodi on Nepal’s post-earthquake reconstruction."
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1743157494632022389?s=20
Sharing a video on X on January 5, EAM said, "India-Nepal people-to-people ties are indeed the foundation of our friendly relations."
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1743158017280102840?s=20
After completing his successful visit to Nepal EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar left Kathmandu on January 5 for India.
EAM Jaishankar was seen off by Minister for Foreign Foreign N. P. Saud and Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal of Nepal at the airport.
"Upon completion of his official visit to Nepal in connection with the 7th Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission, Minister of External Affairs of India, Hon. Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar left Kathmandu for Delhi today. He was seen off by Minister for Foreign Foreign N. P. Saud and Foreign Secretary Ms. Sewa Lamsal at the TIA."
https://x.com/MofaNepal/status/1743167341473759602?s=20
It was the first visit of EAM Jaishankar in the new year (2024).
Before this, last year in 2023, in December, EAM visited Russia.
During his five-day (From 25- 29 December 2023) visit to Russia, EAM called on President Vladimir Putin and held discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
