Swaraj arrives in Kathmandu; Swaraj, Oli hold one-on-one meeting

Kathmandu / Feb 01: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived on a two-day official visit to Nepal as a special emissary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Leading a three-member delegation comprising Bijaya Keshar Gokhle, External Affairs Secretary and Raveesh Kumar, Spokesperson of the Ministry, External Affairs Minister Swaraj touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 4 pm even though she was originally scheduled to make it at 3:30 pm. This is her seventh visit to Nepal.

State Minister for Finance Udaya Shumsher Rana reached the TIA to welcome Swaraj.

Embassy of India in Kathmandu stated that Swaraj will stay at Soaltee Crowne Plaza tonight.

According to a press release issued by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during her stay in Kathmandu, Swaraj will separately call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and hold talks with leaders of political parties on matters of mutual interest of the two countries.

On Friday, Swaraj is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, after which she will call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Wrapping up her two-day visit, Swaraj will leave for New Delhi at 4:00 pm on Friday after holding a meeting with PM Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Swaraj, Oli hold one-on-one meeting

Meanwhile, CPN-UML chairperson KP Sharma Oli has called on visiting Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Thursday evening. The one-to-one meeting was held at Kathmandu-based Soaltee Crowne Plaza.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed on the bilateral relation between two countries and the formation of the new government, informed the secretariat of Oli. In the meeting, Swaraj said that the Indian government is eager looking to work with the new government formed by the left alliance.

The visit of Swaraj is taken as very important step for ameliorant the relation between two countries following the six months economic blockade imposed by India in 2015.

While arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, earlier on Thursday afternoon, Swaraj said that she is in Nepal for friendly visit and she doesn’t have any agenda to discuss.

Meanwhile, following the meeting, Oli is hosting a dinner in honor of Swaraj. After the party, Swaraj is scheduled to meet the Madhes- centric parties’ leader at the hotel.

Likewise, Swaraj will meet CPN (Maoist Center) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday morning. She will call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba later on Friday afternoon.