Nepal's stability linked to India's security: Modi

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Nepal's stability is linked to India's security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday at a joint press conference with his Nepalese counterpart K.P. Sharma Oli.

"I am confident under your able leadership, India-Nepal relations will further strengthen and attain new heights," Modi told Oli, adding: "It is clear that Nepal's stability is linked to India's security."

"We are working on hydro projects with combined capacity of 7000 mw and their quick and successful completion can be a gateway to Nepal's economic prosperity," he said while tele-inaugurating, along with Oli, a power transmission line between Muzaffarpur in Bihar and Dhalkebar in Nepal.

"Trade, investment are strong pillars of relations between India and Nepal; they can be further strengthened," the prime minister said.

Oli, who arrived here on Friday, is the first Nepalese prime minister to pay a bilateral visit to India since 2011 when Baburam Bhattarai had travelled to New Delhi.