EPG to guide Nepal-India relations

Kathmandu, Aug. 16: 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Thursday that the final report of the Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal India Relations (EPG –NIR) would guide the bilateral relations between the two neighbours as required in modern times.

“We are expecting the final report of the EPG-NIR to be submitted soon which, I believe, will suggest a clear guideline for the excellent relations between our two countries as required for the 21^st century,” he said while addressing a get-together reception organised by Nepal Bharat Friendship Society on the occasion of the 72^nd Independence Day of India.

Minister Gyawali said that the exchange of visits by the Prime Ministers of the two countries in April and May this year had generated a new dynamism in the bilateral relations between Nepal and India.

According to him, besides economic, social and other areas of cooperation, the two neighbours are expanding cooperation in the core areas of agriculture, railway linkages and inland waterways.

“While focusing on the effective implementation of all the past agreements and understandings, both sides have intensified engagements for addressing the outstanding matters within the stipulated timeframe of September 2018 with the objective of advancing cooperation in all areas,” the Foreign Minister said.

However, he said that both the countries were facing similar challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, disease, food insecurity and insufficient infrastructure while vast natural resources were yet to be properly harnessed.

Economic inter-linkages are yet to be consolidated and we are yet to benefit fully from mutual complementarities in many other areas which necessitate further efforts for a meaningful partnership so as to ensure mutually beneficial results, he said.

He congratulated India for the remarkable achievements over the last seven decades of freedom from the colonial rule.

Minister Gyawali also recalled the support extended by Nepali people in the freedom movement in India and active participation of prominent leaders like BP 

Koirala, Man Mohan Adhikari and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in the movement.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 August 2018.