Apr 18,2017: Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari was given ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi this morning. The visiting dignitary is on a five-day visit to India.
Ms Bhandari will hold meetings with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Vice President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will also call on the visiting dignitary.
The Nepal President is also scheduled to attend a business event. President Pranab Mukherjee will also host a state banquet in honor of the visiting dignitary.
Ms Bhandari is being accompanied by a high level delegation comprising Ministers, Members of Parliament and senior officials.
Our correspondent reports, This is first state visit of Ms Bhandari after assuming the office in October 2015. The visit is taking place in the backdrop of intensified bilateral engagements at the political and official levels in recent times. In the last six months, this is the fourth visit at the Head of State or Head of Government level between the two countries which is unprecedented.
There had been more than 30 official and ministerial level engagements since the state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal in November last year which clearly illustrate the wide range and depth of cooperative ties with Nepal.
The visit reflects the priority that both the nations attach to further strengthening of their age-old and unique partnership, underpinned by shared historical and cultural linkages and strong people-to-people connections.
( AIR NEWS)