Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 22 August 2019) – Minister for External Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Thursday afternoon briefed the House of Representatives about recently-concluded Fifth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting.
Addressing the parliament meeting on the matter of public importance, Minister Gyawali briefed the house on the issues discussed and key decisions made during the meeting that was held on Wednesday.
Minister Gyawali said that the government has realized that Nepal-India relation has reached a new height after the exchange of high-level visits including between the two prime ministers in the last fifteen months.
According to Minister Gyawali, the meeting has directed the secretariat to make necessary preparation on submitting the EPG report and the foreign secretaries of both the countries to come up with ideas to review the much-talked-about 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty.
“The meeting prioritized matters of bilateral interests and railway connectivity between two countries,” Gwayali added.
The meeting dwelled on various issues including political issues and border security; connectivity and bilateral aid, trade, and transportation, energy, and water resources, culture and education.
Responding the lawmakers, Minister Gyawali clarified that the government is all committed to reviewing all the treaties between Nepal and India in the changed context. He also shared that the government has already held talks with the British government regarding the revision of the tripartite agreement signed between Nepal, Britain, and India concerning the British Gurkha soldier.