Kathmandu: Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Amrit Bahadur Rai, held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in Kathmandu today, with discussions covering the entire spectrum of the longstanding and multifaceted relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

The high-level meeting focused on a broad range of areas of mutual interest, including the exchange of high-level visits, cross-border connectivity, bilateral trade, development cooperation, energy cooperation and people-to-people relations.

According to the discussions, both sides reviewed the progress made in various areas of Nepal-India cooperation and exchanged views on further strengthening the close and historic ties between the two countries. The meeting underscored the importance of continued engagement and regular dialogue in advancing cooperation across multiple sectors.

Nepal and India share deep-rooted historical, cultural, social and economic relations. The two countries are connected not only through geography and an open border but also through centuries-old people-to-people ties, making cooperation between the two neighbours particularly significant.

During the bilateral talks, the two Foreign Secretaries discussed ways to further enhance connectivity and facilitate greater economic engagement. Connectivity has emerged as one of the key pillars of Nepal-India relations, with cooperation extending to road, rail, energy transmission and other cross-border infrastructure.

Trade and development cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. India remains one of Nepal’s major trading and development partners, while bilateral cooperation continues across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, health, education and community development.

Energy cooperation was another important area discussed during the meeting. In recent years, cooperation between Nepal and India in the power sector has expanded significantly, particularly in cross-border electricity trade and the development of transmission infrastructure. Nepal has been increasingly supplying electricity to the Indian market, while both countries have continued discussions on expanding long-term energy cooperation.

The talks also highlighted the importance of people-to-people relations, which remain one of the strongest foundations of Nepal-India ties. Millions of people on both sides of the border share close family, cultural, religious and social connections.

The discussions reflected the strong bond between Nepal and India and the shared commitment of both sides to maintaining close engagement and advancing cooperation in areas of common interest.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is currently in Kathmandu on a two-day official visit at the cordial invitation of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for senior officials of the two countries to review ongoing bilateral cooperation and exchange views on strengthening Nepal-India relations in the days ahead.

The regular exchange of high-level visits and dialogue between the two countries has played an important role in maintaining momentum in bilateral relations. The latest Foreign Secretary-level talks are expected to further reinforce diplomatic engagement and cooperation between Kathmandu and New Delhi.

With connectivity, trade, energy, development partnership and close people-to-people ties continuing to shape the bilateral agenda, Nepal and India remain engaged in strengthening their relationship through dialogue and cooperation based on mutual interests and longstanding friendship.