NEW DELHI, 16 January 2021, (TON): The Sixth Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission was held in New Delhi on Friday. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Nepalese Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs attended the meeting along with their team members. During the Meeting, both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. 

The Meeting discussed the boundary matter and expressed the commitment to early completion of the boundary works in the remaining segments. It also discussed the review of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, submission of the report of the Eminent Persons Group, and air entry routes. 

The two Ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in increasing cross-border infrastructure and connectivity, strengthening of development partnership and expeditious implementation of major ongoing projects and initiatives, including the first cross-border petroleum products pipeline, Integrated Check Posts at major border crossing points, railway links, power transmission lines, upgradation of roads and motorable bridges. The meeting agreed to further speed up the implementation of the ongoing and planned bilateral projects such as the new Integrated Check Posts/Inland Container Depot, including at Dodhara-Chadani, remaining cross border railways, roads, and transmission lines, among others. 

The Joint Commission deliberated on the progress in the discussions held between the two sides to review the bilateral treaties on trade, transit and rail services. Both sides agreed for an early conclusion of the review of Treaty of Trade, Treaty of Transit and the amendments to Rail Services Agreement with a view to further strengthen cooperation in these fields. Progress in operationalization of connectivity through inland waterways was also discussed. 

The meeting agreed to expedite the work for 400 Kv Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line. Reiterating the importance of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project and taking note of the positive discussion at the recent bilateral meeting of the Secretary-level delegations held in New Delhi, the Joint Commission agreed for early finalization of the project DPR. The Meeting also deliberated on the inundation problems facing people living in border areas especially due to non-tagging of embankments, interlinking of drains, and inadequate drainage provision.

The Nepali delegation to the meeting included H.E Mr Nilamber Acharya, the Ambassador of Nepal to India, Mr Bharat Raj Paudyal, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Laxman Aryal, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Population and the officials of various ministries, departments and the Embassy.