This will be the Nepal PM’s first bilateral visit abroad since assuming office in December last year

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,’ will embark on an official visit to India from May 31 to June 3, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on May 27.

This will mark Prime Minister Prachanda’s first bilateral trip abroad since assuming office in December 2022, signifying the importance of the relationship between Nepal and India. Nepal PM Prachanda will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, the MEA said.

During his visit, Nepal PM Prachanda will call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi on diverse areas of the bilateral partnership between India and the Himalayan country.

In addition to the official engagements, Prime Minister of Nepal will also be visiting Ujjain and Indore during his four-day visit to India.

The visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

The bilateral relations between the two countries have significantly strengthened in the last few years in all areas of cooperation. This visit underscores the importance given by both sides in adding further momentum to the bilateral partnership

The two nations' bilateral ties have significantly improved, as has their collaboration in many areas, over the past several years.

This visit is evidence of how both sides are committed to strengthening their bilateral relationship.

With a long history that is firmly entrenched in shared territory, culture, and interpersonal ties, India and Nepal have established long-lasting bilateral relations.

The two countries have enjoyed close ties and collaboration across various domains, including political, economic, cultural, and social spheres.

Geographically, Nepal and India have an open border that allows for simple travel and trade between the two countries. This has made it easier for cross-border engagements, cultural exchanges, and economic collaboration, strengthening friendship and understanding ties.

Frequent high-level visits by the leaders of the two countries at different points of time and the interactions constitute the hallmark of the ties between the two countries.

Furthermore, such visits have helped promote goodwill, trust, understanding and cooperation between the two countries and have injected fresh momentum to further consolidate age-old and multi-faceted bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation on a more mature and pragmatic footing.

Nepal is one of India’s largest and most prominent development partners. In the recent past, several connectivity projects have been undertaken. The Most important landmark is operationalisation of Jayanagar Section of Jayanagar- Bardibas rail link on April 2, 2022 which is the first ever cross-border broad-gauge rail project in Nepal.

Work is on for the completion of Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link. Survey of Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link is underway. East-West optical fibre connectivity is going on. Construction of integrated border check posts at Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairawa and Nepalgunj border is on.

In the energy sector, the cooperation that began with Trishuli Hydropower Projects, Pokhara Hydropower projects, Kataiya Power house and Devigh at hydro-electric project has further developed with commissioning of Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline in 2019, first cross-border petroleum product pipeline in the South Asia region, which has resulted in direct economic benefits to Nepali people as well as spared the roads from congestions.

In the health sector, Nepal Bharat Maitri Emergency & Trauma Centre at Kathmandu (first trauma centre with AIIMS like specialized facilities), B.P Koirala Institute of Health Science, Dharan, Construction of 5 storey OPD complex of Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, are some major projects.

A major project underway is the Construction of Nepal’s National Police Academy (NPA) in Kathmandu.