Nepal PM on official tour to India

Kathmandu, Aug 18: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal along with a 64-member team would be visiting India for a five-day official trip starting from Tuesday, Aug 18.

Nepal will be accompanied by his spouse Gayatri Nepal, six cabinet ministers including the Foreign, Finance and Energy Ministers, high level government officers, businessmen and journalists.

During his visit, he will hold high-level consultations with Indian President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

No important treaties and agreements will be signed during the visit due to a lack of consensus back home. However, a few agreements related to trade may be signed.

Although the Pancheshwar multi-purpose project will be discussed, no specific agreement will be signed on this. The main opposition CPN (Maoist) has warned the government not to sign any agreement on Pancheshwar without their consensus.

Earlier, Nepal had said his visit would focus on deepening existing relations between both countries.

He said he would not sign any agreements with India without taking other political parties in Nepal into confidence.

Nepal will also visit Mumbai and observe the development and financial activities there. He will also take stock of the garbage disposal system of the city.

This is Nepal's first visit to New Delhi after becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal.

ANI