Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 23 August 2017) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special welcome to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba holding a sudden brief meeting on Wednesday before the scheduled bilateral extensive talks on Thursday.
According to Dip Kumar Upadhaya, Nepali Ambassador to India, Indian Prime Minister himself proposed a brief informal meetings with his Nepali counterpart Deuba, who was received by Minister for External Affairs Shushma Swaraj at the IGI airport.
‘Happy to welcome Rt. Hon Shri Sher Bahadur Deubaji, PM of close & friendly neighbour Nepal. Look forward to more extensive talks tomorrow” Prime Minister Modi tweeted after the meet. Prime Minister Modi was supposed to meet Deuba only on Thursday in the delegation level talks at Hyderabad House. Both Prime Ministers are holding one to one meeting tomorrow for half an hour.
Prime Minister Modi’s sudden one to one meeting with Deuba has surprised many and has been considered as special gesture to Deuba, who elevated to Prime Minister by Indian support. It is known fact that the current ruling alliance of Nepal was designed by Indian establishment to oust then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and subside the CPN-UML.
The one-to-one meeting between two prime ministers dwelt on the issues of bilateral relations and improving bilateral ties, said Ambassador Upadhyay. According to Indian sources, Modi’s sudden meeting with Deuba is a manifestation India’s high importance to Nepal.
‘Prime Minister Modi has hinted his full support to Prime Minister Deuba. He gave a message that India and Nepal are old friends and have been enjoying special relations.” the sources said.
PM Deuba is on a five-day state visit to India, reached New Delhi Wednesday afternoon. Deuba attended a programme in New Delhi-based Nepali Embassy today where he addressed the Nepali community in India and business event organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).