NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU: After co-chairing the seventh India-Nepal joint commission meeting in Kathmandu with Nepalese foreign minister N.P. Saud on Thursday, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar announced several agreements between the two nations, including the “long-term power trade”, under which India will import 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the next 10 years.
Jaishankar announced pacts on “cooperation in renewable energy development, implementation of high-impact community development projects, the Munal Satellite and handover of the fifth tranche of post-Jajarkot earthquake relief supply”.
The two foreign ministers also “jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines”. Cooperation in defence and security was also discussed.
Jaishankar also called on Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” and President Ramchandra Paudel.
In his meeting with the Nepalese Prime Minister, the external affairs minister “conveyed the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”. He later posted: “The India-Nepal friendship is indeed unique and our partnership is moving from strength to strength.”
The visit comes amid increasing Chinese influence in Nepal. Jaishankar is currently on a two day visit to Nepal that began on Thursday.
According to news agency reports from Kathmandu, the two sides signed the launch service agreement for the Munal Satellite developed by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, with India also announcing a $75 million grant assistance to Nepal for the reconstruction of earthquake-affected areas.
