Things to know about Indian PM Modi’s Lumbini visit

KATHMANDU, May 16: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, on Monday on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.

A bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to be held on Monday afternoon would focus on the construction of hydropower projects, development of physical infrastructure of Nepal and expansion of connectivity. 

The meeting will dwell on matters related to overall mutual benefits and interests as well as enhancement of trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people relations. 

According to an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the agendas related to development assistance for infrastructure development of education and health sectors, trade facilitation, mutual benefits, collaboration and partnership promotion would be emphatically raised in the talks. 

Nepal's Ambassador to India Shanker Prasad Sharma said that PM Deuba's recent India visit and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed on the occasion would be reviewed. “Likewise, ideas would be exchanged on exploring measures to be adopted for the speedy implementation of the projects and initiatives,” Sharma further explained. 

"I am hopeful that the agendas related to education, health, connectivity expansion and partnership strengthening in the cultural sector would take the center stage in the talks", Ambassador Sharma added. 

According to the MOFA, the PM Deuba-led delegation comprises ministers for home, foreign affairs, physical infrastructure and transport, energy, culture, tourism and civil aviation, education, science and technology, chief secretary, foreign secretary and Ambassador Sharma among others. 

Likewise, PM Modi-led Indian delegation comprises foreign secretary, joint-secretaries of ministry of external affairs and Kathmandu-based Charge d' affaires of Indian Embassy Namgya Khampa.