KATHMANDU: A meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission began in India’s capital New Delhi on Friday.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar are co-chairing the meeting at Hyderabad House in the Indian capital.

Founded in 1987, the Joint Commission is the highest mechanism between Nepal and India to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral ties between Nepal and India.

Nepal and India will hold discussions on various issues including bilateral trade, border disputes, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, investment, and connectivity, and COVID-19 response.

Foreign Minister Gyawali reached India on Thursday to attend the meeting.

Spokesperson at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava earlier said, “The Joint Commission is an important mechanism that provides the opportunity of reviewing at a high level the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership and providing political guidance to further enhance the special and unique ties that we enjoy. We look forward to constructive discussions on the numerous sectors that encompass our bilateral agenda.”

The Nepali side, meanwhile, is raising border issues with the Indian side during the meeting, officials said.

Minister Gyawali is scheduled to hold high-level talks with Indian authorities while in New Delhi.

The Nepali delegation comprises Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Poudel, Nepal’s Ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya, and other senior officials.

The Nepali delegation is returning home on January 16.