Nepalese President on 10-day visit to India

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Nepalese President Ram BaranYadav will arrive in Kolkata today on a 10-day private-cum-official visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties.

During his visit, which comes a week after the trip ofForeign Secretary Nirupama Rao''s to that country, the NepalesePresident will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singhand discuss a host of issues of mutual concern.

"The visit will provide an opportunity to exchangeviews and hold discussions on issues of mutual interest andconcern in keeping with the tradition of regular high-levelexchange of visits between the two countries," an ExternalAffairs Ministry statement said here.

Yadav is scheduled to be the chief guest at the 177thanniversary of Kolkata Medical University. He had obtained hisMBBS degree from there.

After Kolkata, he is due to offer prayers at thefamous Lord Balaji Temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

He will be in New Delhi on January 30 for a healthcheckup at the All India Institute of Medical Sciencesbefore starting his official engagements.

"India and Nepal share a unique relationship offriendship and cooperation characterised by open borders,deep-rooted people-to-people contacts and extensivecooperation.

"The visit of the President of Nepal to India willhelp further strengthen the friendly ties that exist betweenIndia and Nepal," the statement said.

After his stay in New Delhi, the president will bevisiting Chandigarh to attend the convocation ceremony ofPost-Graduate Medical Education and Research Centre, where hehad received his MD degree, in the capacity of chief guest.