External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here today on a three-day visit during which she will co-chair a meeting of the Joint Commission, taking place after a gap of 23 years, with her Nepalese counterpart to discuss key political, security and border issues.
The Joint Commission meeting (JCM) will take place tomorrow and will have five clusters -- political, security and border issues; economic co-operation and infrastructure; trade and transit; power and water resources; and culture, education and media.
Swaraj's visit is also expected to prepare the ground for a two-day visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month. Modi will arrive here on August 3 on a two-day official trip, the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier in over 17 years. In 1997, then Prime Minister I K Gujral had visited Nepal.
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During her stay here, Swaraj will also call on top leadership including Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and hold meetings with leaders across the political spectrum, including Maoist leader Prachanda.
The Indian delegation for the JCM will comprise officials from various ministries including Power, Water Resources, Commerce, Road Transport, Railways, Human Resources Development, Culture, besides the MEA and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Even though the meeting of JCM was taking place after a long period, India has 25 bilateral mechanisms with Nepal where both are interacting on a regular basis.
The visit, first by Swaraj after becoming External Affairs Minister, is also likely to push trade ties between the two countries. At present the annual bilateral trade is approximately USD 4.7 billion and India accounts for 47 per cent of foreign direct investment in Nepal.
Swaraj is here on Foreign Minister Mahendra Pandey's invitation.