NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured a visit to Nepal after attending the G7 meeting in Italy on June 13.

During a discussion with Nepali journalists in New Delhi on Monday, PM Dahal mentioned that since 2014, it has been a tradition for the Nepali Prime Minister to attend the Indian Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony.

“The tradition of Nepal’s Prime Minister attending the Indian Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony started in 2014. When Modi first became Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala attended; the second time, KP Oli attended,” Prime Minister Dahal said, adding, “The swearing-in is just a formality. It provided a good platform for bilateral talks with the Indian government and Modi on key issues concerning Nepal-India relations, and it also offered an opportunity to engage with the leaders of seven other countries.”

He also noted his discussions with the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of Bhutan. “During my one-to-one with Modi, I emphasized implementing previous agreements and partnerships, advancing talks on border and trade issues through Nepal-India mechanisms, and finalizing projects like Pancheshwar,” he added.

Prime Minister Dahal said that they discussed ways to boost agricultural production in Nepal.

“We talked about enhancing agricultural production, and there was a proposal to send related experts from Nepal to India,” he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Modi assured a visit to Nepal after the G7 meeting in Italy on June 13.

“Due to the G7 meeting, he could not visit immediately after the swearing-in but has assured a visit post-June 13,” he mentioned.

Addressing concerns about political stability in Nepal, Prime Minister Dahal emphasized that despite changing political alignments, Nepal’s foreign policy and relations with India remain unaffected.

“There were concerns among some Indian leaders and agencies about the impact of Nepal’s internal political changes on its relationship with India. However, I assured them that our foreign policy remains steady, and we continue to enhance cooperation in economic and other sectors,” he said.

Dahal also noted that India’s interest in Nepal has grown, especially regarding trade deficit reduction and long-term power agreements.

“India is keen on reducing Nepal’s trade deficit, and recent agreements like the long-term power deal have progressed. Projects like Arun III and Lower Arun are moving forward, indicating increased cooperation,” he added.

Prime Minister Dahal addressed the issue of border disputes as well.

“During my visit, Modi spoke publicly about resolving border-related issues, and we are moving towards that direction,” he said.

Commenting on coalition governments, Prime Minister Dahal stated that India, like Nepal, now has a coalition government, which can lead to more fruitful bilateral relations.

“India’s political landscape has also shifted towards coalitions. Despite political changes, both countries aim to maintain stable relations. The coalition government in India will likely make our relationship more productive,” he said.

Dahal expressed confidence that the experiences of coalition governments in both countries would be mutually beneficial.