India Nepal hold sixth Joint Commission meeting, focus on connectivity
Pradeep Kumar Gyawali is the first senior political leader from Nepal to visit India after the ties between the two countries came under strain following a border row.
By IAR Desk
New Delhi: Jan 15,2021: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali with a focus on various key aspects of the bilateral relations. The talks took place under the framework of the Indo-Nepal joint commission meeting. This is the sixth Joint Commission meeting.
Gyawali arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit. He is the first senior political leader from Nepal to visit India after the ties between the two countries came under strain following a border row.
All aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries were reviewed by the Joint Commission.
Both sides discussed several areas of cooperation including in the areas of connectivity, economy and trade, power, oil and gas, water resources, political and security issues, border management, development partnership, tourism, culture, education and capacity building. “The significant and concrete progress made since the last meeting of the Joint Commission in taking forward several bilateral initiatives was acknowledged,” announced the Ministry of External Affairs.
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Both India and Nepal have closely cooperated to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the region and Nepal made a request for early provision of the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines produced by India.
The Ministry statement also said that both sides had also discussed the extension of the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum products pipeline to Chitwan and the establishment of a new pipeline on the eastern side connecting Siliguri to Jhapa in Nepal.
Both sides welcomed the completion of the work on first passenger railway line between India and Nepal from Jaynagar to Kurtha via Janakpur, and noted that operating procedures for commencement of train services were being finalized. Other cross-border rail connectivity projects, including a possible Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line, were also discussed.
The Joint Commission also emphasized the need to facilitate cross border movement of people and goods, noting that the recently inaugurated Integrated Check Posts at Birgunj and Biratnagar have helped in seamless movement of people and trade between the two countries.
While construction of third ICP at Nepalgunj has already begun, work on the new ICP at Bhairahwa is scheduled to soon begin.
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Both sides also discussed ways to expedite joint hydropower projects, including the proposed Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, which have numerous benefits for the people of both countries.
Cultural ties were also discussed. In this content India is slated to undertake two more cultural heritage projects in Nepal, namely, the Pashupatinath Riverfront Development and the Bhandarkhal Garden Restoration in Patan Durbar, with grant assistance.
Both sides also exchanged views on international, regional and sub-regional cooperation with Nepal expressing support for India’s permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council to reflect the changed balance of power.
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The border issue was not touched upon as Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said that “Our position on the boundary issue is well known. Let me say that the JCM and boundary talks are separate mechanisms.”
The next Joint Commission will take place in Nepal.
