Nepalese Prime Minister 'Prachanda' On Official Visit To India; To Visit Three Indian Cities On Four-Day Tour

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is visiting India for four days starting Wednesday (31 May) afternoon, marking his first bilateral visit overseas since taking office in December 2016. A high-level delegation comprising ministers, secretaries and senior government officials will accompany him on the trip.

The Nepalese PM's visit includes meetings with the President, Vice-President, and extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cover different aspects of the India-Nepal bilateral partnership.

Prachanda, aged 68, will visit New Delhi, Ujjain and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, from today (Wednesday, 31 May) till 3 June, on invitation of PM Modi, according to a statement from the Nepalese Foreign Ministry. His daughter, Ganga Dahal, will also accompany him on the trip.

Reportedly, Prachanda is on his fourth visit to India in the capacity of a Prime Minister, and seeks to solidify the long-standing and amicable relationship between Nepal and India, according to an announcement. The visit is also expected to generate substantial progress in energy, connectivity, trade, and development cooperation initiatives.

Prachanda is also set to speak at the Nepal-India Business Summit in New Delhi. The event, organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry, will also provide an opportunity for Prachanda to engage with business leaders from both nations.

India emphasized its 'Neighbourhood First' policy in its statement regarding the visit of high-level officials from Nepal, stating that it follows a tradition of regular exchanges between the two countries. Both countries have seen significant strengthening of their bilateral relations in all areas of cooperation in recent years, it further said.

The Nepalese PM is also scheduled to meet with journalists and civil society members at a dinner reception hosted by Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, in New Delhi. Along with this, he will also meet and interact with the Nepalese community living in India, which has been a customary practice. The interaction will occur at the embassy in New Delhi.