Kathmandu (Nepal): Foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla addressed the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) on Friday. The diplomat sang praises on the intricate Indo-Nepal relationship which he said exists on various paradigms and said that India reciprocates the warmth and friendship that Nepal bestows upon India.
"India’s relations with Nepal are familial and friendly, which stand on the strong foundations of mutual and deep relationships between its people, which are much above the relationship between the two governments,” said Shringla.
Shringla insisted that in recent years IndiaNepa friendship has been given momentum, "Recent years have given the relationship a new momentum. For India, Nepal is fundamental to our "Neighbourhood First” approach. India’s development and modernisation are incomplete and intrinsically and symbiotically linked to the development and modernisation of neighbouring countries such as Nepal. That is why leaders from our neighbouring countries were invited to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2014 and in 2019," he said.
Focussing on Indian government's close relationship with Nepal, Shringla said, "Our Prime Minister’s visit to Nepal in August 2014 was the first at that level in 17 years. It injected fresh energy into the relationship and created a steady stream of two-way travel and developmental initiatives. Over the past six years, Prime Minister Modi has visited Nepal four times and the Prime Minister of Nepal has been welcomed in India seven times. At the level of head of state or head of government, our leaders have met 16 times. At the level of Foreign Minister, our Joint Commission has convened three times, and there have been innumerable other official engagements."
Shringla portrayed India as Nepal's all-weather friend and stressed on projects that have enhanced cross-border connectivity and infrastructure projects.
"The Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline was the first of its kind in the region. It has created the capacity to carry two million metric tonnes of petroleum products into Nepal and has already led to savings of over Nepali Rupees 800 million for the people of this country. Brisk implementation of the 900 MW Arun III hydropower power project is underway, and cross-border power transmission lines have been upgraded," said Shringla stressing on the co-operation between the two neighbours.
Speaking about connectivity between the two nations, Shringla said, "The Jayanagar-Kurtha cross-border rail line should be operational shortly. It will make Janakpur so much quicker to visit from India. Tourism from India would be an important area of employment, commerce and opportunity. We want to promote it to the extent that we can. The modern integrated check-posts at Birgunj and Biratnagar have transformed the cross-border movement of people and goods, and work on the integrated check-posts at Nepalgunj has commenced."
Speaking about India's effort to combat Coronavirus, Shringla said, " We created 15,466 dedicated Covid-19 facilities with 1.5 million isolation beds. Today there are over a hundred PPE manufacturers in India, making 150,000 PPE kits a day. At last count, there were 48 companies making ventilators. And our Prime Minister mentioned that when we started with the Covid crisis there were 16,000 ventilators in hospitals all over India. Today, we plan to have 500,000 ventilators. Testing kits production has gone up considerably and we are conducting about a million tests a day. We are supplying masks, PPEs, diagnostic test kits and ventilators to other countries. Our pharmaceutical companies ramped up production of drugs, especially HCQ and paracetamol. We shipped these to 150 countries even in lockdown conditions. Whatever we had and whatever we could, we shared with our friends – including here in Nepal."
The diplomat assured all help to Nepal to help fight coronavirus saying, "We were only too glad to extend assistance to Nepal in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak, be it in equipment and supplies, or ensuring uninterrupted flow of goods across the border. We also assisted in repatriating Nepalese citizens from various countries along with our own citizens. Yesterday, I had the privilege of handing over 2000 vials of Remdesivir injections to the Hon’ble Foreign Minister. I would like to emphasise our continued and uninterrupted commitment to Nepal."
Emphasising that India has five vaccine candidates for Coronavirus in various stages, Shringla said," We are on the cusp of the availability of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. As the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, India is at the forefront of this effort. We have at least five promising vaccine candidates at advanced stages of trials. Dozens of sites across India are conducting vaccine trials on all ages and social groups. I would like to assure the people of Nepal that, once a vaccine is rolled out, meeting Nepal’s requirements would be a priority for us. Given our genetic profiles, what works for India is likely to work for Nepal as well. Together we will recover from the pandemic and together we will protect our people."
Stressing that India's market was open to Nepal the foreign diplomat said, "India’s market is available to Nepal – to your companies, your start-ups, and your teeming talent pool. Nepal’s hydropower potential can be a major source of clean energy for the subcontinent and an economic game-changer for your country. Together we can find solutions to climate change and environmental concerns that trouble us. Together Nepal’s youth and India’s young people can explore the exciting age of technology and innovation. India’s education institutions, research and skilling centres, and start-up ecosystem are primed to forge partnerships with Nepal."
Ending his speech Shringla said that India and Nepal's growth are linked and both must progress hand in hand. "India's rise, India’s economic growth and India’s modernisation are inextricably linked to our region and our geography. The Indian Premier League is embellished by Nepalese cricketers and the Indian Soccer League by Nepal’s talented young footballers. The arena of sport is sending us a message, whether here in Kathmandu or in New Delhi," he said.
Read: Nepal fundamental to India's neighbourhood first approach: Shringla
