The first meeting of the Eminent Persons’ Group that concluded here today discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties between India and Nepal. During the meeting, political issues, Government-to- Government relations, social and cultural ties, economic exchange and developmental cooperation came up for discussion, according to Nepal Foreign Ministry sources.
As this was the introductory meeting, no decision was made on any issue, one of the participating members said.
The Governments of Nepal and India have assigned the EPG, which comprises of four members each from both the countries, to prepare a joint report with recommendations on how to improve bilateral ties between the two countries in the changed context and to review various agreements and understandings reached in the past.
The report would be pragmatic, implementable and contextual for both the countries, according to Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, EPG coordinator from Nepalese side. The EPG has been given two years mandate to come up with the comprehensive report on anything that needs to be updated, adjusted or amended in all existing bilateral treaties, agreements, understandings, including the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950.
The EPG would hold its next meeting within three months for further discussion either in Kathmandu or New Delhi, according to the official. The two-day meeting was inaugurated by Kamal Thapa, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on Monday.