Kathmandu – Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is set to hold a series of high-level meetings in New Delhi on Monday as part of his five-day visit to India.
Lamichhane will meet Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin later in the day. Lamichanne’s delegation is also scheduled to call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
The visit, taking place at the invitation of the BJP is being viewed as the first major political engagement between India’s leadership and Nepal’s new ruling establishment since the RSP came to power with a commanding majority in Parliament.
According to both the RSP and BJP, the visit aims to initiate formal political dialogue between the two parties, exchange organisational experiences and further strengthen Nepal-India relations.
These meetings will discuss Nepal-India relations, regional cooperation, democratic values and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
While the detailed agenda of the meetings has not been made public, discussions are expected to touch on key bilateral issues including trade, connectivity, investment and hydropower cooperation.
Nepal is also seeking greater Indian support in operationalising the international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa advancing cross-border connectivity projects and reviewing the Nepal-India Trade Treaty.
The visit comes at a significant moment in bilateral relations with Prime Minister Balendra Shah having prioritised domestic governance over foreign travel and a planned visit by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Kathmandu having been postponed earlier this year.
Lamichhane’s meetings are expected to provide both sides an opportunity to exchange views on Nepal-India relations and explore areas of future cooperation as Kathmandu’s new political leadership seeks to define its approach towards its largest neighbour.
