‘India An Economic Powerhouse’: Nepal FM pushes stronger bilateral ties, backs cooperation

New Delhi: Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal on Sunday described India as an “economic powerhouse,” highlighting the growing scope of bilateral cooperation between the two countries during his visit to New Delhi.

“Rising India, global tech leader”

Addressing the media, Khanal said Nepal views India as a rapidly growing technological and economic force that has redefined its global standing.

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He said Nepal aims to engage with a “rising India” driven by innovation, execution, and economic expansion, while bringing its own aspirations for development and growth.

Focus on development over geopolitics

Khanal stressed that Nepal’s new political outlook prioritizes development-oriented diplomacy over historical geopolitical tensions. He said the focus is now on trade, connectivity, and economic transformation rather than old regional rivalries.

He added that Nepal seeks “measurable, real-world outcomes” from bilateral commitments instead of symbolic agreements.

Talks with Indian leadership

During his visit, Khanal held discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar. The talks covered trade, energy cooperation, cross-border connectivity, and water resource management.

Both sides also discussed strengthening people-to-people ties and ensuring smoother implementation of existing agreements.

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Push for digital and economic integration

A key highlight of the discussions was progress in cross-border digital payments, enabled through coordination between Nepal Clearing House Limited and India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Khanal said such initiatives reflect a shift toward practical economic integration between the neighbours.

Shared vision for open border cooperation

The Nepal FM emphasized that the open border between India and Nepal should act as a bridge for growth rather than a barrier, calling for calm, data-driven cooperation between the two countries.