Committed to Nepal's development, Modi tells Nepal PM

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala met for one-on-one discussions covering a range of issues, including bilateral and regional matters.

During the meeting, Modi expressed his commitment to extend all possible support for Nepal's socio-economic development and expressed his commitment to further consolidate exchanges and interactions between the people of the two countries (See: Modi announces $1-bn loan to Nepal; offers to review bilateral treaty).

Narendra Modi, accompanied by a 101-member delegation including seven ministers, arrived in Nepal on a two-day visit, making it the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to this Himalayan nation in 17 years.

Both countries are scheduled to discuss a range of bilateral relations and some agreements are likely to be inked, including in the field of hydropower.

Nepal is the second neighbouring country Modi is visiting after Bhutan in June.

Modi said he was "excited" about the visit. "I am excited about my visit and pleased that I am able to go there within weeks of assuming office as prime minister," Modi said in a pre-departure statement.

"My visit reflects our shared heritage of nature, history, culture, spiritualism and religion. It highlights the high priority that my government attaches to our relations with Nepal and our determination to take our relationship to an entirely new level," he said.

Foreign policy analysts have said that the focus on Nepal is significant, and have suggested that this is Modi's way of mitigating China's steadily growing influence in the country.

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