Nepal President terms his India visit as successful

Kathmandu, Feb 19 (ANI): Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has termed his India visit as a successful one and indicated that prospects for strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries are bright.

Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport here last evening, President Yadav said the four-day goodwill visit, was for democracy and peace and had played a significant role in enhancing bilateral ties.

He said Indian leaders had shown concern about the Constitution making and the peace process in Nepal.

President Yadav paid a State visit to India on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Pratibha Devisingh Patil from February 15 to 18. This was Yadav's first visit abroad after assuming office last year.

India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterised by open borders, deep-rooted people-to-people contacts and extensive cooperation, an MEA statement said.

President Yadav met President Pratibha Patil and conveyed that India's relations with Nepal were unique and special in every sense.

Besides, President Yadav and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh exchanged views and held discussions on issues of mutual interest and concern. Both expressed their satisfaction at the progress in implementation of decisions taken during the visit of Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to India in August 2009.

President Yadav emphasised the importance of close relations between India and Nepal and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the continued support from India for the economic development of Nepal.

While Prime Minister Singh conveyed that India attached the highest priority to further strengthening relations with Nepal in every sphere and expressed full support for the ongoing peace process and efforts to bring about economic transformation in Nepal.

Both the countries also signed Air Services Agreement (ASA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for extension of railway lines to five cross-border points along the Indo-Nepal border, on the establishment of Nepal-Bharat Maitri Polytechnic at Hetauda and on the establishment of Nepal-Bharat Maitri Sabha Griha in Birgunj. (ANI)