In a suo-moto statement on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament that India has intensified high-level political exchanges with Nepal. She said during PM’s visit, the whole gamut of India-Nepal relations was reviewed and PM announced to extend $1 billion concessional line of credit to Nepal.
“Our bilateral relations with Nepal are rooted in shared history, geography and culture (roti beti ka sambandh). Our consistent effort has been to further strengthen our close relations at all levels, including in the fields of trade and investment, hydropower, enhanced cross-border connectivity, defence and security including training and joint exercises, culture, education and tourism,” the Minister told Parliament. She said India is also scaling up its developmental assistance to Nepal. Modi announced assistance of $1 billion lines of credit to be given to Nepal over and above the existing $ 350 million lines of credit.
The Minister added that PM’s Nepal visit has enhanced mutual trust and confidence between the two countries and given a “new impetus, direction and dynamism” to vital ties. “Prime Minister was very satisfied with the outcome of the visit to Nepal. He touched the hearts and minds of all the Nepalese people that was conveyed to him in so many words by his interlocutors,” Swaraj said.