HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Their Majesties leave for India today

Kathmandu, June 23 (RSS): His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah are leaving here this afternoon on a state visit to the Republic of India at the friendly invitation of Indian President K.R. Narayanan and Madame Usha Narayanan.

His Majesty’s state visit to India is His Majesty’s first foreign visit following His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne.

Experts on foreign relations here say that the maiden visit of His Majesty the King will add a new dimension to Nepal-India relations and would be fruitful in further consolidating the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, a former foreign minister is confident that the first visit to India by the new King would have a long-term impact on the bilateral relations.

"India is a very close friend of Nepal and His Majesty’s visit will open up roads to further smoothening and greater expansion of the mutual relationship enjoyed by the two countries", said Dr. Mahat.

He also expressed the confidence that the visit would be very fruitful in developing the working as well as personal relation between the heads of state of the two countries.

The visit being made at a time when the country is suffering from terrorism will help garner additional support in our fight against terrorism, Dr. Mahat said adding that there are various aspect and dimension of Nepal-India relations which will gain new heights following the visit.

New vigour

Prof. Dr. Lokraj Baral, former Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India expressed confidence that the state visit by His Majesty the King would be successful in further strengthening the foundation of Nepal-India relations and would add new vigour to enhancement of mutual understanding.

Stating that the bilateral relations should be moved ahead looking at the future rather than the past, Dr. Baral said it is also equally essential to resolve the problems existing between the two countries.

Fruitful

Foreign relations expert Hiranya Lal Shrestha expresses the hope that His Majesty’s visit to India would prove to be fruitful in renewing bilateral relations at the highest level as well as in promoting mutual understanding. Noting that problems between the two countries can be resolved to their mutual interests, he stressed both the countries should understand each other’s problems and seek solutions to them accordingly.

He said that Nepal-India mutual relations which have evolved into the 21st century should be carried ahead and given a new direction to suit the times.

The common border between the two countries should be managed well and one country should cooperate with the other in the present context when the country has been affected by terrorist activities, he said and pointed out that a balanced foreign policy should be maintained with all the neighbouring countries.

Mutual understanding

Similarly, Nepal Council of World Affairs chairman Keshav Raj Jha is of the view that His Majesty’s visit to India would contribute to promoting mutual understanding and in clearing away misgivings and misunderstandings if any.

He expressed the conviction that the visit would also contribute to further deepening Nepal-India multilateral ties.

The exchange of views and interaction that will be held with senior Indian leaders will provide an opportunity for Nepal to present its views in the regional and international context, he said and added that the visit attaches a great importance since discussions will also be held with the Indian leaders on the kind of contributions that could be made towards pacifying the tensions rife in South Asia.

Historic

Relationship between Nepal and India is of historical importance and the two countries enjoy cordiality in socio-economic and religious terms as well. The about 1,750 kilometre open border between Nepal and India also highlights the friendly relations enjoyed by the two countries since times immemorial.

In this context, the high level visit made by heads of state and government, the exchange of visits at various level of the two governments and the visit at the people’s level have undoubtedly cemented the friendship between the two countries.

Exchange of visits and ideas by heads of state and governments made in the past have been instrumental in consolidating the relationship and enhancing mutual intimacy.

Regular assistance

Since the past 50 years India has been regularly assisting in the development endeavours of Nepal and has provided co-operation in various sectors including the building of roads and bridges, education, health, communication and water resources.

Among them, the B.P. Koirala institute of Health Sciences, an institute of medicine running with Indian co-operation in Dharan of Sunsari, is one of the leading institutions in the whole of South Asia region. India has already expressed committment to continue its assistance to the institute for the next seven years.

Apart from Bir Hospital which was constructed with the cooperation of India, an agreement on the Bir Hospital extension project for operating an emergency and trauma ward at the hospital has also been reached with India.

Similarly, the Paropakar Indra Rajya Laxmi Maternity Hospital has also been constructed with Indian assistance.

India has been giving regular training for producing skilled manpower necessary for the hospital and would continue to extend this kind of cooperation in future also.

Bridges constructed

Likewise, 22 bridges constructed on the Kohalpur-Mahakali Highway with assistance from the Government of India have been handed over to His Majesty’s Government while construction of a 5.6-kilometre railway line from Raxaul to Sirsiya has also been completed with Indian assistance.

Phase one bilateral talks have already been held with India for operating the Raxaul-Sirsiya railway services and it is hoped the railway service will soon come into operation.

It is also learnt that feasibility study is being carried out regarding construction of a guest house at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 million under the greater Janakpur Development Project and for construction of the Rangeli-Bhadrapur road, Chatara-Birpur road and Janakpur ring road.

Similarly, the detailed report on construction of the Mahendranagar- Tanakpur link road is in the final stage of its completion.

Likewise, construction of dams on the Lalbakaiya, Kamala and Bagmati rivers, implementation of development-related provisions as outlined in the Mahakali Treaty and the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Pancheshwar Multiple Project are in their last stages.

Mutual interest

As per bilateral agreements reached with regard to issues of mutual interest and concern between Nepal and India, India has come up with some more proposals in other sectors of development. The sectors thus proposed by India are those relating to rural and community development and development of the dairy industry.

Doti and Nawalparasi districts have been selected for the rural and community development programme and it is learnt that the National Planning Commission was working towards that end.

A feasibility study is being carried out for establishing a technical and vocational institute in the far western development region and for construction of the east-west rail tracks. The draft of the feasibility study for the technical and vocational institute and the East-West Railway track had been prepared during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to India sometimes back.

Similarly, bilateral agreement has been reached between Nepal and India regarding development of the East-West Highway optical fibre link project in the field of telecommunications. The project would be implemented in the next two years, it is learnt.

Other Stories