Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Nepal and India have enjoyed very close and age-old religious and culture ties. In a joint press meet after a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in New Delhi today, Modi said he would work to give a height equal to that of mountains for the Nepal-India relations. “We will resolve all issues including the border issues or others as per the same spirit. To further deepen these relations, Prime Minister Dahal and I have wanted to expedite a project relating to the Ramayana Circuit,” Modi added. Modi said, “Nine years ago, I had talked about the ‘HIT’ friendship between India-Nepal relations – Highways, I-ways, and Trans-ways.
Our partnership has bloomed since and we want to make our partnership a ‘Superhit’, which is what these projects will achieve.” “Nepal’s first integrated check point (ICP) was built in Birgunj and the trans-border petroleum pipeline has been developed between India and Nepal. Broad-gauge railway has been established and new transmission line is built in the border area. We are importing 450MW electricity from Nepal,” the Indian PM added. Today, a transit agreement has been reached which shall ensure rail route and water ways access to the Nepali side from this, according to the Indian PM. He further stated that an agreement has been made to provide training to officials of Nepal’s railway department. Likewise, Modi termed that the cross-border digital payment agreement shall benefit students, tourists, pilgrims and medical travelers in the two countries.
He said that a landmark vision document has been made for the energy sector cooperation in the recent year and a long term power trade agreement has been concluded between Nepal and India on the same basis. Under this agreement, India has targeted to import 10,000 MW power in the coming decade and added that agreement on the development of Phukot Karnali and Lower Arun Hydropower Project has added new support for energy sector cooperation, he said. In his speech Modi said that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to establish a chemical fertilizer company in Nepal under the Nepal-India mutual cooperation.
