PM Modi calls Deuba an ‘old friend’, Nepal joins International Solar Alliance

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Nirendra Dev

New Delhi: several documents and MoUs were signed and exchanged between India and Nepal in the presence of two Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi Sher Bahadur Deuba, in New Delhi on Saturday, April 2.

Nepal officially joins the International Solar Alliance, a forum on a global scale launched with the personal initiative of Narendra Modi.

“Deuba ji is an old friend of India. As the PM, this is his fifth visit to India …The friendship between India and Nepal, relation between our people – such an example can’t be seen anywhere else in the world,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also said Deuba has played an ‘important role’ in developing the India-Nepal relationship. India has been a firm companion in Nepal’s journey of peace, prosperity and development; it will always be, he said.

“Our Joint Vision Statement on Power Cooperation will prove to be the blueprint of cooperation in the future,” he said, adding, “We must reap the benefits of the opportunities for cooperation in the power sector.”

“We discussed various aspects of our cooperation, reviewed the progress of various projects and also discussed the blueprint of the future.,” the Prime Minister said.

Both the Prime Ministers jointly launched RuPay in Nepal and also flagged off several India-developed and assisted projects for the Himalayan nation.

“The launch of the RuPay card in Nepal will add a new chapter to our financial connectivity,” Mr Modi said.

Among various such initiatives, they jointly inaugurated the Solu Corridor 132 KV Power Transmission Line and Substation in Nepal, built under Govt of India’s Line of Credit.

Earlier in a tweet, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the nations would be “working together to take India-Nepal relations to newer heights”.

The prime ministers also jointly inaugurated cross-border passenger train services between Jaynagar (India) and Kurtha (Nepal), built under India’s Grant Assistance.

PM Modi said, “We agreed on greater participation by Indian companies in Nepal’s hydropower development plans.”

“Prime Minister Deuba and I agreed to give priority to trade and cross-border connectivity initiatives between two countries,” PM Modi said.

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