Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened relations with Himalayan nation Nepal, in his recent two day visit to the neighbour. He said India is ready to be the Sherpa to help Nepal scale the mountain of success, and stressed on the special relationship shared by the two neighbours. Modi admired Nepal's spirit of resilience and commitment towards democracy. Addressing a civic reception programme, he said, “Nepal has covered a long journey from Yuddh to Buddh (War to Peace). You have left the bullet to opt the ballot way... But this is not the destination. You have to go a long way. You have reached the base camp of the Mt Everest and the main climb is yet to be done. As the Sherpas help mountaineers to reach the top of the Everest, India is ready to help Nepal like a Sherpa to achieve development.”
The Indian leader said Nepal must identify its needs and priorities to deliver results. “India will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to help Nepal in its development journey. Your success is our success and your joy is our joy. India has always worked for global good. It has taken the lead in mitigating the menace of climate change. The International Solar Alliance has brought together nations from across the world,” he said. He congratulated the Nepalese people for their combined strengths to rebuild the country after the devastating earthquake of 2015.
“There is an atmosphere of hope and optimism in Nepal,” he said. He praised Kathmandu, calling it a mixture of the ancient and the modern. “There is something unique about the beauty of Kathmandu. It’s a special city. It has an important place in the history of the world. Nepal is a country of diversity and Kathmandu is a world in its own. The diversity gives fresh air to any outsider.”
Meanwhile, a combined statement issued by both the countries, said Modi and counterpart KP Sharma Oli have agreed to maintain the momentum generated by the visit by adopting effective measures to ensure implementation of all agreements and understanding reached in the past. They also agreed that proper implementation of the bilateral initiatives in agriculture, railway linkages and inland waterways development, which was signed during PM Oli's recent visit to India, would lead to transformational impact in the areas. Both leaders reiterated their resolve to work together to take bilateral relations to newer heights by strengthening ongoing cooperation in diverse spheres as well as expanding partnership for socio-economic development on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual trust, respect, and mutual benefit, the statement said.
