"India, Nepal have natural, civilisational ties"

New Delhi, Feb 20: India and Nepal have a natural and civilisational relationship, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on him here on Saturday.

"India & Nepal have a natural, civilisational relationship, PM K.P. Sharma Oli tells External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders during their meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Oli arrived here on Friday on a six-day visit to India, the first bilateral visit by a prime minister from the Himalayan nation since 2011.

Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting Nepalese prime minister ahead of his delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Earlier on Saturday, Oli was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he inspected a guard of honour.

IANS