Kathmandu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala on key strategic issues after which 10 agreements, including a pact on $1 billion assistance to Nepal, were inked.
A host of strategic issues, including defence and security, were discussed during the talks that lasted 40 minutes. Following the talks between the two leaders, the two sides finalised terms of the $1 billion Indian assistance for Nepal’s infrastructure development, which was announced by Mr Modi during his August visit.
Elsewhere, talking about India’s ties with Nepal, Mr Modi, said, “When we trust each other, we can move forward very quickly.” “Projects that have been in limbo for 25 years are moving forward. I feel very satisfied,” he said after inaugurating the trauma centre built by India at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital.
Mr Modi and Mr Koirala also inaugurated the Indo-Nepal bus, titled Pasupathinath Express. Mr Modi, who arrived here earlier on Tuesday for a three-day visit, will attend the two-day 18th SAARC Summit beginning on Wednesday apart from holding bilateral meetings with other AARC heads of state and government.
India and Nepal signed the Motor Vehicle Agreement under which permit would be given to vehicles to ply on designated routes in each other’s country. They also inked three twin-city pacts between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya.
The 10 agreements signed between the two countries those on India’s assistance to construct a police academy, tourism, traditional medicines and youth exchange. An MoU was also signed on a project development agreement over the 900 megawatt hydroelectric project on the Arun river in Nepal. India and Nepal also lifted a decade-long ban on carrying of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 Indian bank notes by their nationals while visiting each other’s countries.
