Nepal’s policy of friendship based on sovereign / equality, peace and understanding: HM
Their Majesties begin state visit to India

New Delhi, June 23 (RSS): Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah arrived here this evening on a week-long state visit to India at the friendly invitation of Indian President K.R. Narayanan and his spouse Mrs Usha Narayanan.

This is the first foreign visit of His Majesty the King after accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Nepal.

Their Majesties are accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka also arrived here today along with the Royal entourage.

Their Majesties the King and Queen, on arrival at the Military Airport at Palam, New Delhi, were welcomed by India's Central Minister of State for Railways Digbijaya Singh.

Also present at the airport to welcome Their Majesties were high ranking officials of the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Royal Nepalese Ambassador Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, his spouse Dr. Rita Thapa, officials of the Royal Nepalese Embassy, office bearers of the India-Nepal Friendship Association and distinguished Nepalese nationals in New Delhi.

As per the Indian tradition, Their Majesties the King and Queen will be accorded a formal welcome by Indian President K.R. Narayanan and Mrs Narayanan at a special function at Rastrapati Bhawan tomorrow.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will also be present at the function, it is stated.

Their Majesties had left for New Delhi this afternoon by special aircraft. Before leaving Kathmandu, a contingent of the Royal Nepal Army presented a 31-gun salute and a guard of honour to His Majesty the King at the VVIP bay of Tribhuvan International Airport.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev bid a warm farewell to Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Their Majesties were offered bouquets by Panchakanyas.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was present at the airport to bid farewell to Their Majesties.

Also present on the occasion were the Chief Justice, the Speaker, National Assembly Chairman, the chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee, ministers, leaders of various political parties, MPs, heads of foreign diplomatic missions, heads of constitutional bodies as well as distinguished persons.

Earlier, in a message to the countrymen before leaving, His Majesty said that Nepal had a policy of developing friendship on the basis of sovereign equality, peace and understanding with all the countries.

His Majesty expressed confidence the visit will provide continuity to the close relations being nurtured through contacts at the government and people's level since centuries and help to further strengthen the mutual understanding and goodwill existing between Nepal and India.

"We are leaving for New Delhi on a state first to India at the friendly invitation of President of India K. R. Narayanan," His Majesty said. "We have constituted a council of Royal representatives under the chairmanship of HRH Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev for undertaking our responsibilities during our absence", His Majesty added.

His Majesty the King has hoped that all the countrymen will as usual extend co-operation from their respective places for the welfare of Nepal and the Nepalese by remaining alert to their duties.

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