Kathmandu, 11 Aug: The ambassadors of Nepal’s neighboring countries, India and China, have met with Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The meetings, held separately on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, focused on extensive discussions regarding bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Shah held separate meetings with India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, and China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming. The discussions covered bilateral relations, mutual interests, and development partnerships. Prime Minister Shah had previously held a collective meeting with diplomatic officials. The latest meetings have been interpreted as a signal that Nepal is giving priority to strengthening relations with its neighboring countries.
Message from the Counterpart
The meeting between Prime Minister Shah and India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, was the ambassador’s first courtesy meeting with the newly appointed prime minister. The meeting took place amid discussions about Prime Minister Shah’s possible visit to India. During the meeting, Ambassador Srivastava conveyed a message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the two sides discussed bilateral friendship, mutual interests, future development partnerships, and cooperation.
According to Prime Minister Shah’s Press and Research Adviser, Deepa Dahal, Prime Minister Shah expressed Nepal’s desire to further deepen its historic relationship with India and work together in areas of common interest.
Ambassador Srivastava congratulated Prime Minister Shah and expressed his commitment to further strengthening relations and cooperation between the two countries. He also shared on social media that he had conveyed Prime Minister Modi’s message to Prime Minister Shah.
“I was pleased to meet the Prime Minister of Nepal and convey to him the warm greetings of Prime Minister Modi,” Srivastava said. He also stated that the meeting included productive and meaningful discussions on further deepening the strong and multifaceted partnership between India and Nepal.
Focus on Expanding Partnership
China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming, also held a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Shah. According to Prime Minister Shah’s Press Adviser Dahal, the meeting included an exchange of views on further strengthening relations between Nepal and China.
The two sides also discussed strengthening relations between the neighboring countries, promoting cooperation in various sectors, and expanding development partnerships.
Prime Minister Shah said that the government is committed to further deepening Nepal’s historic relationship with China and working together in areas of common interest. Ambassador Zhang congratulated Prime Minister Shah and expressed his commitment to further strengthening mutual relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Nepal has been pursuing friendly partnerships with India in areas including trade and economic cooperation, connectivity and energy partnerships, water resource management, sports, people-to-people relations, and regional cooperation.
Similarly, based on the historic, friendly, and multifaceted relationship between Nepal and China, the two countries have been cooperating significantly in economic and development partnerships.
Press and Research Adviser Dahal said that Prime Minister Shah has been continuing regular meetings with diplomatic representatives as necessary, emphasizing the importance of maintaining regular engagement.
