KATHMANDU/DELHI: India and Nepal signed several agreements, including one for purchase of 10,000 MW of hydropower by India from Nepal, as external affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held “comprehensive and productive” talks with his counterpart N P Saud and also called on president Ramchandra Paudel and prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
The agreement will facilitate export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India in the next 10 years. The two countries had reached an understanding on electricity export during Prachanda’s visit to India during May 31-June 3 last year.
“Discussions focused on our overall bilateral ties, trade & economic relations, land, rail & air connectivity projects, cooperation in defence & security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people & cultural exchanges and development partnership,” Jaishankar said in a post on X, after chairing the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting.
During Jaishankar’s visit, India also announced grant assistance to Nepal worth $75 million for reconstruction of earthquake affected areas.
Besides the signing of the long-term power pact, three other agreements were also inked between the two sides. An agreement for the implementation of high impact community development projects was also signed. An MoU for cooperation in renewable energy development between Nepal Electricity Authority and NTPC Ltd was also signed.
Nepal and India also signed the launch service agreement for Munal satellite developed by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology.
Jaishankar also witnessed the handing over of the fifth tranche of earthquake relief supplies to Nepal. The country witnessed a powerful earthquake on November 3 in which 154 people were killed and hundreds of houses were damaged.
The leaders also jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines including 132 KVA Raxaul-Parwanipur, Kushaha Kataiya and New Nautanwa-Mainahia cross-border transmission lines, said officials.
Nepal’s foreign ministry said various aspects of Nepal-India ties were discussed on the occasion under the thematic areas of economic relations, connectivity, trade and transit, power and water resources, education and culture and political matters, among others.
Earlier, Jaishankar called on President Paudel and PM Prachanda during which the two sides exchanged substantive views on Nepal-India relations. Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old ‘Roti Beti’ relationship.
The agreement will facilitate export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India in the next 10 years. The two countries had reached an understanding on electricity export during Prachanda’s visit to India during May 31-June 3 last year.
“Discussions focused on our overall bilateral ties, trade & economic relations, land, rail & air connectivity projects, cooperation in defence & security, agriculture, energy, power, water resources, disaster management, tourism, civil aviation, people-to-people & cultural exchanges and development partnership,” Jaishankar said in a post on X, after chairing the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting.
During Jaishankar’s visit, India also announced grant assistance to Nepal worth $75 million for reconstruction of earthquake affected areas.
Besides the signing of the long-term power pact, three other agreements were also inked between the two sides. An agreement for the implementation of high impact community development projects was also signed. An MoU for cooperation in renewable energy development between Nepal Electricity Authority and NTPC Ltd was also signed.
Nepal and India also signed the launch service agreement for Munal satellite developed by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology.
Jaishankar also witnessed the handing over of the fifth tranche of earthquake relief supplies to Nepal. The country witnessed a powerful earthquake on November 3 in which 154 people were killed and hundreds of houses were damaged.
The leaders also jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines including 132 KVA Raxaul-Parwanipur, Kushaha Kataiya and New Nautanwa-Mainahia cross-border transmission lines, said officials.
Nepal’s foreign ministry said various aspects of Nepal-India ties were discussed on the occasion under the thematic areas of economic relations, connectivity, trade and transit, power and water resources, education and culture and political matters, among others.
Earlier, Jaishankar called on President Paudel and PM Prachanda during which the two sides exchanged substantive views on Nepal-India relations. Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old ‘Roti Beti’ relationship.
