Modi, Oli build rapport, eye trade and connectivity
KATHMANDU:PRIME Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal helped build trust and understanding that will help overcome the lack of trust that characterised bilateral ties following differences over the country’s new Constitution, Nepalese officials said on Saturday.
Modi and his Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli built good rapport and agreed to resolve all outstanding issues by September 19 — Nepal’s Constitution Day.
When the two leaders met on Friday evening, it was Modi who proposed that the outstanding issues, including the exchange of demonetised Indian notes parked in Nepal’s financial institutions, the widening trade gap, various duties imposed by India and sluggish progress in India-funded projects, should be sorted out by September, the officials said.
“This was the first real example that the two prime ministers have built solid trust and understanding,” said Bishnu Rimal, the chief adviser to Oli.
India had expressed concerns about the new Constitution, which was adopted in 2015, and a subsequent six-month blockade of the border – which Nepal blamed on India – had hit bilateral ties and deepened mistrust.
Speaking at a civic reception in his honour in Kathmandu Saturday, Modi said India will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal in its development journey.
“You have reached the base camp of Mount Everest and the main climb is yet to begin. The way mountaineers are helped by Sherpas to scale the summit, India is ready to work as the Sherpa for Nepal,” he said.
Officials said the foreign secretaries will review progress on the outstanding issues every week and come up with solutions by September 19.
Though Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale denied there was any discussion on reviving the Saarc process, the joint communiqué noted that Modi and Oli had underscored the importance of regional and subregional cooperation under the Bimstec, Saarc and BBIN frameworks.
Modi and Oli focused on effective implementation of bilateral initiatives in agriculture, railway linkages and inland waterways development. They underlined the catalytic role of connectivity in stimulating economic growth and promoting movement of people. Cpn-maoist Centre leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, during his meeting with Modi, urged India to remove its field office in Biratnagar, which Nepal has described as “illegal”.
Prachanda also raised the issue of border management.
During talks with leaders of Madhes-based parties, Modi advised them to unite and consolidate power to gain more public support, people familiar with the discussions said.