India, Nepal to reset ties with rail, water links

MODIOLI MEET Pledge greater trade, security, agri cooperation

NEW DELHI: Moving to reset their wobbly relationship, India and Nepal on Saturday identified new areas of bilateral cooperation, including the construction of an India-funded railway line connecting Raxaul in Bihar with Kathmandu, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their partnership on a framework of “quality, mutual trust and respect.”

Nepal’s PM KP Oli, on the second day of a three-day visit to India, called for a “trust-based” relationship between the two sides after holding talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stressed bilateral security ties and a commitment to stop the misuse of their open border . Besides the proposed rail link, India and Nepal identified inland waterways and agriculture as potential new areas of cooperation. Nepal is a key neighbour of India’s, sharing a 1,850 km border with five Indian states -- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. To its north, Nepal bor- ders China. Oli, on his first overseas visit since being sworn in in February as the head of a Communist government for the second time, is seeking to thaw a relationship that has been uneasy because of his pro-china image. India, for its part, has rolled out the red carpet for the Nepal leader as it s strives to counter China’s influence.

“The PM assured Oli that India remains committed to strengthening its partnership with Nepal as per the priorities of the Government of Nepal,” a joint statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders said.

“Relations between neighbours are different from those of others. Neighbourhood realities make peaceful coexistence, based on the principles of equality, justice, mutual respect and benefits a necessity for shared destiny,” Oli said.