KATHMANDU: Indian Foreign Secretary Bikram Misri met with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba at Singha Durbar on Sunday for talks covering a wide range of bilateral issues.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions focused on mutual interests, bilateral relations, and matters of common concern. Minister Rana said Nepal has always attached high importance to its relations with India and thanked the Indian government and people for their consistent economic, technical, and development cooperation.
Highlighting recent progress in connectivity and diplomatic engagements, Rana emphasized that enhanced railway, road, and air links would benefit both countries through tourism and economic activities. She urged India to facilitate additional flights and new routes from Indian cities to Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport, and also stressed the need to create conditions for a direct Nepalgunj–Delhi flight.
Rana also sought timely progress on the India-supported Fapla Cricket Stadium in Dhangadhi.
On trade, she drew attention to difficulties faced by Nepal’s private sector in exporting products such as plywood and steel to India, raising concerns over the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements and other barriers. She called for facilitation under the Nepal–India Transit Treaty to ease trade flows.
Minister Rana further underlined the need to move forward with implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project for the benefit of both countries and highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation on flood and inundation control.
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