KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to meet in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, today (Friday).
The two leaders will hold ‘sideline’ talks during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit.
According to the Prime Minister’s travel itinerary, the meeting is scheduled for 4 PM on Friday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, where Indian Prime Minister Modi is staying.
The Nepali delegation, led by Prime Minister Oli, is staying at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok. The Mandarin Oriental, where the Indian delegation, including Modi, is staying, is about 15 minutes away by car from the Shangri-La.
Sources indicate that the meeting between Oli and Modi is expected to last around 20 to 30 minutes, though it may be extended if the discussions prove particularly cordial.
The meeting will also be attended by six senior officials from the Nepali side, including Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba, Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal, and another advisor, Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada. Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal and Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai are also expected to participate.
The BIMSTEC summit will take place today, where the heads of government from the member countries are scheduled to address the assembly.
In addition to his participation in the BIMSTEC summit, Prime Minister Oli will remain in Bangkok until Saturday morning for his official visit to Thailand.
Prime Minister Oli, who arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday, held formal bilateral talks with the Thai Prime Minister.
On Thursday morning, he met with a group of businessmen and later addressed the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in the afternoon. In the evening, he attended a dinner organized for the BIMSTEC summit’s leaders.
Indian Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Bangkok today (Thursday), is also preparing for his first visit to Sri Lanka since being re-elected.
Before leaving for Thailand, Modi expressed his eagerness to meet with leaders from the BIMSTEC countries, stating, “I am looking forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging in meaningful discussions to further strengthen cooperation by prioritizing the interests of our people.”
After the BIMSTEC summit, Modi is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka. Despite his busy schedule, he is taking time to meet with Prime Minister Oli.
Earlier, the two leaders met in New York during the United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Oli had also extended an invitation to Modi on behalf of Nepal.
However, efforts to arrange a visit by Modi to Nepal have not been successful, nor has Prime Minister Oli received an invitation to visit India.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba has visited India three times, but these visits have not yet resulted in a breakthrough in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Comment