Fifth Nepal-India Joint Commission meet concludes

Kathmandu / August 21: The fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission concluded in Kathmandu today evening.

The 35-member Nepali delegation headed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar leading his respective delegations co-chaired the meeting at the Hotel Yak and Yeti this evening.

In the meeting, Minister Gyawali and his Indian counterpart witnessed handing over of two separate cheques for post-earthquake reconstruction and Postal Highway project in Nepal. The cheque equivalent to NRs 2,458,850,000 was handed over to the government of Nepal towards reimbursement for the post-earthquake reconstruction in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts. Likewise, another cheque equivalent to INRs 807.1 million was handed over as a part of the Indian government’s commitment of INRs 5 billion towards strengthening road infrastructure in Tarai Region.

The two ministers also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) of Nepal on food safety and standards.

The Joint Commission meeting reviewed the overall state of bilateral relations, and various areas of cooperation such as connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources sectors, culture, education and other matters of mutual interest, according to a statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prior to the joint commission meeting, Minister Gyawali had held a meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Gyawali is hosting a dinner in honour of the Indian minister.

The Minister of External Affairs of India is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari tomorrow morning before making departure to his home.