Saturday, March 22, 2025

India visit fruitful: Minister Rana

 Kathmandu, Mar. 21

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has said that her recent visit to India was fruitful in strengthening diplomatic relations.

Talking to journalists upon her arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport after participating in the Raisina Dialogue organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, she shared that talks with her counterparts from various countries were beneficial in strengthening economic and diplomatic ties.

"During this visit, I had meetings with my counterparts from other countries, including India's Dr. S. Jaishankar and I also addressed the Raisina Dialogue. Likewise, I made efforts to ensure the continued supply of electricity that Nepal purchases from India," she said.

Dr. Rana also held separate meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Moldova, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Ukraine, and the Philippines. She also met with the Special Assistant for the President of the USA and Senior Director of the National Security Council of the United States for South and Central Asian Affairs, Ricky Gill.

According to FM Dr. Rana, while in India, she also engaged in diplomatic efforts to address the current electricity shortage in Nepal. Specifically, she requested an increase in the supply of electricity to Nepal through the Indian Energy Exchange, in accordance with the existing bilateral agreement between Nepal and India.

In her meeting with Gill,  she requested continued U.S. support for Nepal and sought assistance in securing the safe release of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi, who has been held hostage by Hamas.

Likewise, during her meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart, Minister Dr. Rana requested the release of seven Nepali nationals who are currently held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

When asked about recent political developments in Nepal, she responded, "There had been no particular discussion on this matter in India, but we can see that India continues to support a democratic system in Nepal."

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 March 2025.    

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