Prime Minister Shah Meets Indian Ambassador Srivastava, Discusses Nepal–India Relations and Mutual Interests

Dragon Media Correspondent

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) held a courtesy meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Monday.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the meeting took place at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, where the two sides discussed Nepal–India relations and matters of mutual interest.

This was Prime Minister Shah’s first separate formal meeting with the Indian ambassador since assuming office. He had previously interacted collectively with Kathmandu-based foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives.

Following the completion of his government’s first 100 days, Prime Minister Shah has begun expanding separate consultations with political, economic and diplomatic stakeholders. As part of this process, separate meetings with the ambassadors of neighboring countries India and China had been scheduled for Monday.

India remains one of Nepal’s major neighboring countries and development partners. The two countries maintain extensive ties in trade, transit, energy, infrastructure, cross-border connectivity, tourism, culture and people-to-people relations.

Although the Prime Minister’s Secretariat confirmed that bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest were discussed during Monday’s meeting, it did not immediately disclose further details regarding the specific agenda.

Prime Minister Shah is also scheduled to hold a separate meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming on Monday.