Visit of
Prime Minister of Nepal
Rt. Hon. Mr.
Sher Bahadur Deuba to India
Joint Press
Statement
1. The Rt. Hon. Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba,
Prime Minister of Nepal, paid an official working visit to India from September
8-12, 2004, at the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime
Minister of India. The visiting delegation included Hon. Dr. Mohammad Mohsin,
Minister for Information and Communication, Hon. Mr. Badri Prasad Mandal,
Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Hon. Mr. Ishwar Pokhrel, Minister
for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Hon. Mr. Thakur Prasad Sharma, Minister of
State for Water Resources and Hon. Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs. The delegation also included officials of His Majesty’s
Government of Nepal, a business delegation and a delegation of media
representatives. Prime Minister Deuba was also accompanied by his wife, Dr.
Arzu Deuba.
2. The Prime Minister of Nepal called on
His Excellency the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He had a meeting
with the Prime Minister of India, which was followed by talks and luncheon
hosted by the Prime Minister of India. Minister of External Affairs Shri K.
Natwar Singh, Minister of Defence Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Home
Affairs Shri Shiva Raj Patil, Minister of Railways Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav,
Minister of Water Resources Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, and the Leader of the
Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri L. K. Advani called on the Prime Minister of
Nepal. The Prime Minister of Nepal met the Chairperson of UPA and President of
Indian National Congress, Smt. Sonia Gandhi as well as former Prime Ministers
Shri Chandra Shekhar, Shri H.D. Deve Gowda and Shri A. B. Vajpayee. He also
addressed a business meeting organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian
Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
3. The two Prime Ministers held
wide-ranging discussions in an atmosphere of warmth, friendship, openness and
mutual confidence, characteristic of the relationship between the two
countries. They expressed satisfaction at the progress made in various areas of
cooperation between India and Nepal and reiterated the commitment to further
develop bilateral relations in the spirit of equality and mutual respect.
Combating Terrorism/Security
Cooperation
4. The Prime Ministers reiterated the
determination of the two countries in combating the scourge of terrorism. They
agreed to further intensify cooperation in curbing the activities of the
extremists and terrorists. In this context, they expressed satisfaction at the
ongoing cooperation under the existing mechanism in the areas of supply of
equipment, training and exchange of information. Prime Minister Deuba thanked
the Government of India for the timely and substantive support provided by
India in Nepal’s efforts to deal with the Maoist insurgency. Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh reassured the support of the Government of India for further
strengthening of Nepal’s security forces including the Nepal Police.
5. The Prime Ministers stressed the need
for an early conclusion of the Extradition Treaty and Agreement on Mutual Legal
Assistance on Criminal Matters and directed the Home Secretaries to take up the
matter in their next meeting with a view to finalizing the documents. It was
noted that the next meeting would take place in October 2004 in New Delhi.
Boundary Demarcation
6. The Prime Ministers expressed
satisfaction at the progress made by the Joint Technical Level Boundary
Committee and directed the Committee to complete the remaining mandated tasks
by June 2005.
Economic Cooperation
7. The Prime Ministers expressed
satisfaction at the progress on the implementation of various Nepal-India
economic and development cooperation projects. They reiterated their desire to
further deepen and diversify such cooperation.
8. The Prime Ministers welcomed the
proposal regarding cooperation for development of road network in the Terai,
including the development of identified stretches of Hulaki Rajmarg.
9.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the idea of cooperation for conservation
and development of Churia range in Nepal. A concept paper would be forwarded by
the Nepalese side.
10.
The Prime Ministers decided
that the proposed Institute of Technology in the Far-Western Region of Nepal
would be set up in two phases. A team from India will visit Nepal soon for
discussions with His Majesty’s Government of Nepal to select a suitable site
for the project.
Water Resources
11.
Emphasizing
the importance of cooperation in the water resources sector, the two Prime
Ministers stressed the need for expeditious progress on projects currently
under active consideration including Pancheshwar and Upper Karnali. They also
directed that work on the preparation of the DPR of Budhi Gandaki project be
commenced expeditiously. The two Prime Ministers noted that the next series of
meetings of bilateral institutional mechanisms including the meetings of the
Joint Committee on Water Resources (JCWR) and the Joint Group of Experts on
Pancheshwar would be held by October 2004. They welcomed the establishment of
the Joint Project Office for Sapta Koshi Multipurpose Project and Sun Koshi
Storage cum Diversion Scheme.
12.
The Prime Ministers mandated the Joint Committee on Water Resources to
prepare a comprehensive strategy for flood management and control, including
measures that can be implemented in the short to medium term. The Prime
Ministers directed the Standing Committee on Inundation Problems and the High
Level Technical Committee to resolve all inundation and embankment related
issues soon.
Trade, Transit and Investment
13.
The Prime Ministers welcomed
the operationalization of the Inland Container Depot and the opening of the
Consulate General of India in Birgunj.
14.
The Prime Ministers directed
the concerned officials to discuss the matter related to use of the ICD for
carrying of cargo for bilateral trade.
15.
They stressed the need for an
early formalization and implementation of the Motor Vehicles Agreement.
16.
The Prime Ministers directed
the two sides to expeditiously resolve outstanding trade issues, including in
removing some practical problems in the implementation of the Treaty of Trade
and to implement agreed trade facilitation measures speedily. They decided to
accord priority, in particular, to addressing issues relating to quarantine and
testing procedure for Nepal’s export of agricultural and food products, including
Vanaspati Ghee.
17.
The Government of India agreed
to consider the utilization of Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai for Nepal’s use
of its transit cargo.
18.
The Prime Ministers agreed to
direct the concerned officials to finalize arrangements for improving border
infrastructure at four major customs points, and for development and
upgradation of rail and road networks on both sides.
19.
The Prime Ministers welcomed
the agreement between Bureau of Indian Standards and Nepal Bureau of Standards
and Metrology as first step towards mutual recognition of certification
systems.
20.
The Prime Ministers welcomed
the agreement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation for a
joint venture regarding construction of an oil pipeline between Raxaul (India)
and Amlekhgunj (Nepal).
21.
The Prime Ministers agreed to
further strengthen the policy framework for bilateral investments, inter alia,
through speedy conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreement.
Culture and Sports
22.
The Prime Ministers welcomed
the conclusion of the Agreement on Cooperation in the fields of Culture and
Sports, which would provide the necessary framework for institutionalized
cooperation in these areas.
Science and Technology
23.
The Prime Ministers welcomed
the conclusion of Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of
Weather Forecasting, which envisages the setting up of an INSAT Ground
Receiving Station in Nepal.
1950 Treaty of
Peace and Friendship
24.
The Prime Ministers directed
the Foreign Secretaries to continue discussion on the review of the 1950 Treaty
of Peace and Friendship with a view to further strengthening the bilateral
relations.
Invitation
25.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh accepted the invitation extended by
Prime Minister Deuba for an official visit to Nepal at a convenient date.
New
Delhi
September
12, 2004
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