Nepal visit: Modi to focus on boosting ties

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first visit to Nepal on Monday after his 2019 re-election will focus on cementing bilateral ties on the pillars of shared culture and civilizational heritage, connectivity, energy, and education, people familiar with the matter said.

Modi will be meeting Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at Lumbini, the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha who became Buddha after enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in India, on Monday after taking a short helicopter ride from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh the place where the Lord attained Nirvana. He will also visit the historic Lumbini heritage site on auspicious Buddha Purnima Day, the day the founder of Buddhism, which has nearly half a billion followers around the world, was born, achieved enlightenment, and attained Nirvana.

The main purpose of the visit is to deepen the cultural connect between the two neighbours.