Kathmandu, June 5: President of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Rabi Lamichhane said Nepal’s prosperity and development agenda was at the center of discussions during his five-day official visit to India.
Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return on Friday evening, Lamichhane said his meetings with Indian leaders focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in a wide range of sectors, including connectivity, information technology, sports and religious tourism.
“During the visit, we clearly conveyed the kind of support and engagement the RSP-led government expects from India. Discussions centered on the government’s priorities, ranging from connectivity and religious tourism to the broader benefits of Nepal-India relations,” he said.
Lamichhane added that improving the responsiveness and efficiency of Nepal’s diplomatic missions and mechanisms in India, as well as addressing the concerns of Nepali citizens living there, also featured prominently in the discussions.
On Nepal-India border issues, the RSP president stressed that such matters should be addressed through diplomatic channels.
“Diplomatic efforts are crucial in resolving border issues. These matters should be handled gradually, and efforts in that direction are moving forward accordingly,” he said.
According to Lamichhane, invitations to visit Nepal were extended to Narendra Modi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Nabin during separate meetings. He said both leaders responded positively to the invitation.
The RSP chair also said that the timing of Nepal Prime Minister’s future visit to India would be determined based on the prevailing context and mutual convenience.
“The Prime Minister and I have shared responsibilities for running both the government and the party. We have created an environment that allows the government to focus effectively on its responsibilities,” he said.
Lamichhane had travelled to India at the invitation of BJP leader Nitin Nabin. Before departing from New Delhi, he was seen off at Indira Gandhi International Airport by Nepal’s Charge d’Affaires to India, Dr. Surendra Thapa, and BJP Foreign Affairs Department chief Dr. Bijay Chauthaiwale, according to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.
During the visit, Lamichhane held separate bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader Nitin Nabin. The discussions focused on strengthening Nepal-India relations and advancing cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
His delegation included spouse Nikita Paudel, RSP Joint General Secretary and House of Representatives member Bipin Kumar Acharya, RSP Secretariat member and lawmaker Deepak Bohara, and Private Secretary Pradip Acharya. #nepal
