Koirala on goodwill visit with economic agenda
New Delhi, June 6: Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala arrived here today on a four-day goodwill visit during which he is expected to seek assistance to revive his country's economy, in tatters due to 10-year-old Maoist insurgency and political instability.
India is a main donor of Nepal, providing military and economic assistance, and the two countries are expected to sign a major aid agreement, according to reports from Kathmandu.
This is Mr Koirala's first foreign tour since he became Prime Minister in April after the restoration of democracy and reinstalment of Parliament in Nepal.
He is expected to thank Indian leaders for their support during the recent protests against King Gyanendra's ''absolute rule'', and discuss India's possible role in the peace process in Nepal to end the Maoist insurgency, reports said.
Mr Koirala, who is here at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is leading a 41-member delegation which includes businessmen.
He is accompanied by Minister for Physical Planning and Construction Gopal Man Shrestha, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahanta Thakur, Minister for Finance Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister for Local Development Rajendra Prasad Pandey and Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal.
During his visit, Mr Koirala will have delegation-level talks with Dr Singh at 1100 hrs tomorrow.
He will also meet President APJ Abdul Kalam, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and former Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar tomorrow.
On June 8, he will meet Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and On June 9, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Mr Koirala is also scheduled to attend a reception hosted in his honour by the Nepalese embassy here.
UNI
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