S. M Krishna to visit Nepal today

New Delhi, Jan.15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna will undertake a three-day visit to Nepal from today.

A Ministry of External Affairs press release said that Krishna is proceeding to Kathmandu at the invitation of Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala.

Krishna's visit is being seen here as New Delhi's effort to address Nepal's call for reciprocity in high-level bilateral visits.

The visit will deal with a range of bilateral issues, but is aimed primarily at giving Nepal-India ties a further boost.

The visit will also provide the Indian political leadership an opportunity to take first-hand stock of the state of the peace process in Nepal.

During his visit, Krishna will call on President Ram Baran and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

He will also hold talks with Sujata Koirala on close to a dozen issues.

Issues of Indian compensation for Gandak flood victims and extension of two new cross-border rail links will be taken up.

The delay in construction of the Indian-assisted Naumure Hydro Project (240mw), the early implementation of the Bagmati Civilisation Project and Indian assurance on importing LPG from the Haldia port will be taken up.

This would be Krishna's first visit to Nepal after assuming charge as Minister of External Affairs and is in consonance with the ongoing high-level bilateral interaction between the two countries. (ANI)