Nepal and India Agree to Deepen Cooperation Across Key Development Sectors

Nepal and India have agreed to further strengthen and expand their bilateral relations through enhanced development partnerships, improved connectivity, and cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest.

During bilateral talks held in New Delhi on Saturday between Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, both sides reviewed ongoing projects and cooperation initiatives and exchanged views on accelerating their implementation. According to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, the ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including collaboration within multilateral forums.

The two sides jointly announced the operationalisation of peer-to-peer cross-border payment transactions under the MoU between Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) signed in June 2023. They also marked the handover of 72 health sector and 12 cultural sector post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Nepal, completed with India’s development assistance. In addition, an MoU was exchanged between Kathmandu University School of Engineering’s Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence and the Digital India Bhashini Division to jointly develop national digital infrastructure for a “voice-first” language translation platform.

The discussions covered a wide range of areas including trade, economic cooperation, cross-border connectivity, energy partnership, water resources management, and people-to-people ties, including sports. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding and friendly Nepal–India partnership.

Minister Khanal is scheduled to return to Nepal on Sunday.