Bilateral mechanism active to implement Nepal-India cooperation commitments: Dahal

Kathmandu –CPN Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the bilateral mechanism was working actively to bring into effect the commitments and pacts between Nepal and India for mutual cooperation. 

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Nepal-India Think Tank Summit 2018 organized by the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) and Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) Foundation here today, leader Dahal said his party was ready to further Nepal-India ties with an open and progressive mindset to pursue common interests.

 
Arguing that Nepal's stability, peace and prosperity were also a matter of concern and interest to India and that Nepal alone could not achieve prosperity without cooperation from her neighbors, the former Prime Minister Dahal spoke of the need for both the countries to charter a common destination within the parameters of the sustainable development for their greater good. 

The former Prime Minister remarked, "Nepal will no longer reel under poverty. We can't afford to lag behind when our neighbours are making strides. It is imperative to further Nepal's journey of prosperity through railway and sea connectivity as agreed with India." 

He held the view that Nepal-India relations would achieve a new height on the basis of equal sovereignty and common interest as well as the fresh breath of hope brought among the Nepali by the last visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal. 

On the occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav opined that the Prime Ministerial level visit to India and Nepal had improved the ties between the two countries. 

He also believed that the eminent persons' group comprising intellectuals from both countries would submit a report which could help script a new history in the ties between the two neighbours. He said such events would help stop the trend of intellectual and scholars shedding light on either positive or negative aspects of bilateral issues and help understand things into critical and creative light. 

Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Shri Ram Madhav expressed his confidence that the stable government formed with two-thirds majority would make democracy a success in Nepal and the conference would contribute towards developing mutual ties between Nepal-India on the basis of knowledge. 

He reaffirmed that the Indian Premier's 'Neighbour First' policy would get continuity. 
Likewise, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri viewed that the mutual economic cooperation between India and Nepal would be furthered given the latest agreements such as Arun III hydro power project and Integrated Check Post in Birgunj. 

The scholars partaking in the conference will deliberate on the Indo-Nepal ties and its dimensions in different sessions including on Building Innovative Cooperation between Indo-Nepal Think Tank, Bolstering Bilateral Economic Ties and Managing the Security Dilemma, and Redefining Nepal-India relations in the 21st century. 
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