In an attempt to touch base with the new Government in Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Kathmandu on Thursday.  Her two-day visit on February 1-2 will be the first major diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Kathmandu following the elections in Nepal.

"The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level political exchanges between India and Nepal, and reflects the expanding bilateral partnership and the importance that the two countries attach to further strengthening it across diverse sectors. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to hold discussions with political leaders of Nepal on issues of mutual interest, and to advance age-old, special ties of friendship between India and Nepal," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Her visit comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli and invited him to visit India. This was Modi's second telephone call to Oli in the last two months. Oli too invited Modi to Kathmandu and said he is eager to work with the Indian government.

Oli is the chairman of CPN-UMl party which has inched ahead of all others in the Nepal's elections. However, it will take about a month for Oli to take over as the new PM.

"I'm delighted to note that we are learning by your experience and are in a process to implement our Constitution. As the first step towards this direction, we have nearly completed elections of all three levels," Oli later said in his letter to Modi on the occasion of India's Republic Day.

In his previous tenure as PM, Oli had accused India for political interference in Nepal and causing economic blockade. He even accused India of toppling his government. Oli is also perceived to be closer to China and has often played China card against India.