Lalitpur, July 18
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on
Thursday that inundation in the Terai and the border disputes had emerged as
prominent issues in Nepal-India bilateral relations.
Both the countries need to work together to address these
issues, he said while speaking at a talk programme on 'Nepal-India Relations:
Development and Dynamics' organised by Pushpa Lal Memorial Foundation.
Minister Gyawali expressed confidence that the old treaties
and agreements between the two neighbours would be amended and made relevant
along with the changing time and situation.
It is high time Nepal and India worked together to address
various challenges in the bilateral relations since the countries are having
favourable situation in relations which was rare in the past, he said.
"This is the golden opportunity for both the countries,
and we must work to tap the opportunity unfolded by this unprecedented
situation," he said.
He said that continued
dialogues, exchange of ideas and dozens of bilateral mechanisms have supported
to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. However, additional
commitment and capabilities are needed to remove difficulties and bridge the
gap, he added.
Stating that India was the major source of investment,
tourists, development cooperation, goods import and export, he stressed on
creating a win-win situation for both the countries.
"There are wide areas of cooperation like natural
resources, young and active population and culture and civilisation. Climate
change has emerged an important area for collaboration and it calls for urgent
actions to minimise and mitigate its impact," said Gyawali.
He appreciated India for its support in petroleum pipeline
which came into operation from Thursday, Kathmandu-Raxaul Railways, Postal
highway and other infrastructure projects, and support during the disasters
like 2015 Gorkha Earthquake.
He also sought Indian support to make the Visit Nepal Year
2020 a success and in attracting investment in national priority areas like
infrastructure, energy, information technology and service sector.
Speaking on the occasion, former Prime Minister and Chairman
of the Foundation Madhav Kumar Nepal stressed on open dialogue between the two
neighbours to sort out the problems, challenges and hurdles in the bilateral
relations.
He said that peace and stability in Nepal would help India
as well. "Nepal should overcome the 'small nation psychology' and India
must not have 'big nation psychology' in the bilateral relations between the
two countries," he said.
Nepal said that the relations between the two countries
dated back to the Mahabharat era when King Birat of Nepal led a troop to
Mahabharat War and the Ramayana era when Prince of Ayodhya Lord Rama came to
Janakpur to marry Sita.
According to him, national pride is in blood of all Nepali
people which should be sensed and clearly understood by all of our neighbours.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said that both
the countries were currently involved in three major partnership projects –
Integrated Check Post in Birgunj, Guest House at Pashupatinath and 900 MW Arun
III Hydroelectricity project.
"At the same time, the process is expedited to
reimburse the quake support or Rs. 100 billion announced by our Prime Minister Narendra
Modi. We are releasing the housing grant for 50,000 houses in Nuwakot and
Gorkha districts," he said.
He said that Nepal can be benefitted significantly from
Indian tourists who come for Muktinath, Pashupatinath and Kailash Mansarovar.
"India is the best suited economic partner of Nepal
with the largest number of tourists, 32 per cent growth in export trade this
year, and 45 per cent share in 130 million US Dollars Foreign Direct
Investment," he said.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 July 2019.
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