Kathmandu— Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah held his first bilateral meeting with a foreign envoy on Monday, receiving Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava at the Prime Minister’s Office in Kathmandu. The hour-long discussion marked a departure from Shah's previous preference for group interactions with ambassadors and signals a new approach to diplomatic engagement since he assumed office in March. Both sides discussed Nepal-India relations, focusing on bilateral friendship, development partnerships, and areas of mutual interest.

Shift in Diplomatic Approach

Prime Minister Shah had previously maintained a firm stance against individual meetings with foreign ambassadors, favoring group interactions instead. Monday’s meeting with Ambassador Srivastava represents a clear shift towards direct, one-to-one diplomacy, opening a series of planned discussions with other foreign envoys.

Bilateral Discussions and Cooperation

During the meeting, both sides discussed various aspects of Nepal-India relations, including bilateral friendship, mutual interests, development partnerships, and ongoing cooperation. Ambassador Srivastava reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Shah emphasized the importance of deepening historical connections and collaborating on shared priorities.

Upcoming Diplomatic Engagements

Following his meeting with the Indian ambassador, Prime Minister Shah is scheduled to meet with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming later today, and US Charge d'Affaires Scott Urbom tomorrow. Preparations for these high-level meetings were finalized weeks ago but experienced a brief delay due to recent events in Sunsari.

Longstanding Development Partnership

Nepal is considered one of India’s largest and most prominent development partners, with cooperation dating back to 1951 and the construction of Gauchar Airport in Kathmandu. The Indian Aid Mission was established in Nepal in 1954 to coordinate developmental projects across various sectors including connectivity, health, education, and power.

The meetings are expected to further strengthen bilateral ties between Nepal and India, building on a decades-long history of development cooperation.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.