Kathmandu, Jan. 15
India has assured Nepal of its support in availing COVID-19 vaccines.
In the sixth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission held in New Delhi, India
on Friday, India assured that the requirements of Nepal would be in priority
consideration after the roll-out of vaccines, said Embassy of Nepal in New
Delhi in its statement.
The JC appreciated the close coordination between the two sides in
facing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic while Nepal thanked India
for its support of essential medicines and medical equipment.
The meeting
discussed the boundary matter and expressed the commitment to early completion
of the boundary works in the remaining segments.
“It also
discussed the review of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, submission of
the report of the Eminent Persons Group, and air entry routes,” said the
embassy.
Talking on the boundary issue, Minister for Foreign
Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that Nepal desired to start the discussion
on boundary issue with India.
Nepal wants
boundary discussion with India
“We desire to
start conversation with a view to resolving the question of boundary alignment
in the remaining segments,” he said during a talk at the Indian Council
of World Affairs (Sapru House) on Friday.
In a speech sent to media by the Embassy in New Dehli,
Minister Gyawali said that of the 1,800 km long international boundary that
Nepal and India share, work remains to be completed in some kilometres.
Stating
that both sides have agreed to resolve the boundary question through talks and
the two neighbours have also shown wisdom that despite the differences in one
area, the momentum of our overall engagements is continued, he said, “We are also
mindful that we should not let any outstanding issue between us be there
forever and become irritant in an otherwise friendly relationship.”
In
his speech delivered among the distinguished diplomats, intellectuals and media
persons, he reminded India of the report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on
Nepal India Relations.
“We created
an Eminent Persons’ Group in 2016 and mandated them to review the entire
spectrum of Nepal-India relations and recommend measures to upgrade them in the
changed context. The EPG has done its work and our job is to receive their
report and implement it,” he stated.
Bilateral treaties were discussed
Likewise,
the Joint Commission deliberated on the progress in the discussions held
between the two sides to review the bilateral treaties on trade, transit and
rail services.
Both sides
agreed for an early conclusion of the review of Treaty of Trade, Treaty of
Transit and the amendments to Rail Services Agreement with a view to further
strengthen cooperation in these fields, read the statement.
Progress in
operationalisation of connectivity through inland waterways was also discussed.
Minister Gyawali participated in the meeting with a
high-level delegation including Foreign Secretary, Health Secretary, Nepal’s
Ambassador to India and other government officials. Indian delegation was led
by its Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar.
Minister Gyawali and his Indian counterpart S.
Jaishankar also held a meeting. Foreign secretary of Nepal and Ambassador to
India were present in the meeting, Nepali embassy said in a tweet.
The meeting reviewed the entire
spectrum of bilateral relations that included the important areas of Covid-19
vaccine, boundary and border management, connectivity and economic cooperation,
trade and transit, power and water resources, and culture and education.
The meeting
also agreed to further speed up the implementation of the ongoing and planned
bilateral projects such as the new Integrated Check Posts/Inland Container
Depot, including at Dodhara-Chadani, remaining cross border railways, roads,
and transmission lines.
It agreed to expedite
the work for 400 Kv Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line.
Early DPR
of Pancheshwar
Likewise, reiterating the importance of Pancheshwar
Multipurpose Project and taking note of the positive discussion at the recent
bilateral meeting of the Secretary-level delegations held in New Delhi, the
Joint Commission agreed for early finalisation of the project DPR.
The
Nepal-India Joint Commission was established in 1987 with a view to review and
further strengthen all aspects of bilateral relations.
Minister Gyawali will return to Kathmandu on Saturday.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 January 2021.
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