India and Nepal on Wednesday held Foreign Secretary-level talks covering the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including trade, connectivity, energy, development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, as the two neighbours stepped up diplomatic engagement ahead of Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah's proposed visit to New Delhi later this month.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held delegation-level discussions with his Nepalese counterpart Amrit Bahadur Rai in Kathmandu during the first day of his two-day official visit to the Himalayan nation.
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions covered the "entire gamut of Nepal-India relations", including exchanges of high-level visits, connectivity, trade, development cooperation, energy and people-to-people relations.
The ministry said the talks underscored the strong bonds between the two countries and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Misri's visit, undertaken at Rai's invitation, is also aimed at preparing the groundwork for Prime Minister Shah's expected visit to India, which would be his first bilateral foreign visit since assuming office in March.
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต-๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐
The Indian Embassy in Nepal said Misri and Rai exchanged views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including preparations for the forthcoming visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister to India.
The proposed visit is expected to take place towards the end of November, although the two governments have not formally announced the dates.
Both countries have been working to identify priority areas for cooperation and prepare the agenda for discussions between their political leadership.
The forthcoming engagement is expected to provide an opportunity to review ongoing bilateral projects and explore fresh initiatives in trade, infrastructure, energy and investment.
Misri is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Shah before concluding his visit on Thursday.
๐ ๐ถ๐๐ฟ๐ถ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐น'๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
Earlier on Wednesday, Misri paid a courtesy call on Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to deepen their multifaceted partnership and strengthen the longstanding ties of friendship between India and Nepal.
According to Nepal's Foreign Ministry, the discussions covered opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including energy, trade, sports and education.
Khanal expressed confidence that relations between the two neighbours would reach new heights through continued engagement and cooperation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss prospects arising from upcoming high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Misri separately met Nepal's Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, with discussions focusing on economic collaboration and opportunities for strengthening commercial ties.
๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
India and Nepal maintain extensive cooperation across trade, transit, investment, energy, infrastructure and development projects.
India remains Nepal's largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment, while the landlocked Himalayan country relies heavily on Indian transport infrastructure and ports for international trade.
Bilateral merchandise trade stood at approximately $9.38 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year, accounting for more than 60 per cent of Nepal's total external goods trade.
Energy cooperation has emerged as an important component of the relationship, particularly through hydropower development and cross-border electricity trade.
Both countries have also been working to expand electricity transmission infrastructure and improve connectivity through roads, railways and other transport networks.
The latest talks provided an opportunity to review progress in these areas and examine ways to strengthen economic integration.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ
The diplomatic engagement comes against the backdrop of longstanding boundary differences between India and Nepal, particularly concerning Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani.
Nepal claims the territories as part of its sovereign territory, while India maintains that they form part of Uttarakhand.
The issue resurfaced earlier this year after Nepal objected to India's plans to facilitate the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through Lipulekh.
New Delhi has maintained that bilateral mechanisms are available to address outstanding boundary matters and has rejected proposals for third-party involvement.
Although the dispute has periodically created diplomatic friction, both governments have continued engagement across economic and development sectors.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฐ
Misri arrived at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday morning, where he was received by Nepal's Joint Secretary Gehendra Rajbhandari and India's newly appointed Ambassador to Nepal, Sudhakar Dalela.
This is his second visit to Kathmandu since assuming office as India's Foreign Secretary in July 2024.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier described the visit as part of regular high-level exchanges intended to strengthen the comprehensive bilateral partnership.
India and Nepal share longstanding historical, cultural, religious and people-to-people connections, supported by extensive cross-border movement and economic activity.
Misri is scheduled to conclude his engagements in Kathmandu on Thursday before returning to New Delhi.
The discussions are expected to help shape the agenda for Prime Minister Shah's proposed visit and identify areas where the two governments can advance cooperation in the coming months.