Koirala telephones Modi, invites him to visit Nepal

New Delhi: Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Thursday telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and invited him to visit the country to address the upcoming First Donors' Conference in the Himalayan nation.

"Prime Minister Koirala invited his Indian counterpart to visit Nepal on June 25, 2015, to address the first donors conference in Kathmandu," an official statement said. 

It also said that Koirala mentioned that he had sent his finance minister Ram Chandra Mahat to Delhi with a personal invitation for Modi. 

"The Indian prime minister conveyed that he would participate, his schedule permitting, and assured him that India will, in any case, be represented by a high ministerial level delegation," the statement further said.

During the telephonic conversation, Koirala also briefed Modi on the steps his government was taking for the rehabilitation of survivors of the April 25 earthquake and May 12 aftershock as well as reconstruction in Nepal. 

Koirala also briefed the Indian prime minister on the recent political developments, including drafting of the Constitution, in the Himalayan nation.

Nepal's prime minister also congratulated Modi on the latter's successful visit to Bangladesh, describing it as yet another example of Modi's successful 'neighbours first' policy and his commitment to strengthen relations with India's immediate neighbours.

"He congratulated Prime Minister Modi on the historic agreements signed in Dhaka and welcomed his support for sub-regional connectivity between Bhutan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal," the statement said.

On his part, Modi reiterated India's "unwavering and sustained support to Nepal" in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, guided by the preference and priorities of the government of Nepal.

"Modi assured Koirala that India will respect and be with Nepal in all its decisions in this regard. The (Indian) prime minister reaffirmed that India has always been guided by humanitarian concerns in a spirit of equality and friendship," it added.

Modi also conveyed his appreciation to Koirala on the progress in the political process on the drafting of the Constitution in Nepal. He also conveyed his best wishes for the successful conclusion of the peace process and adoption of a new Constitution in the neighbouring country.

He reiterated that India's only desire was success, peace and progress of the people of Nepal.