BackSushma Swaraj to visit Nepal in BJP’s ‘neighbour first’ approach
External affairs minister to co-chair joint commission meeting during 25-27 July
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New Delhi: In another indication that India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is determined to keep to its “neighbourhood first approach", external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Nepal from 25-27 July.
The highlight of the visit will be Swaraj co-chairing the India-Nepal joint commission meeting with her Nepalese counterpart after a gap of 23 years, external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters on Wednesday.
This is Swaraj’s second standalone visit to a country neighbouring India. Last month she had visited Bangladesh.
The issues for discussion under the joint commission framework include security and border issues, economic cooperation and infrastructure, trade and transit, power and water resources besides culture and education.
“Our intention, endeavour and hope is that the external affairs minister’s visit will pave the way for prime minister’s early visit to Nepal," Akbaruddin said, adding that during her three-day visit, Swaraj will call on top leadership including Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and hold meeting with leaders across the political spectrum, including Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Both countries share an open border and there are six million Nepalese working in India. India offers scholarships to 3,000 Nepalese nationals every year. Bilateral trade between India and Nepal is approximately $4.7 billion and India accounts for 47% of foreign direct investments (FDI) in Nepal.
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