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Prime Minister Sher Deuba has said that Nepal and India should develop a broad understanding in power export and cooperation between two countries.

In a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Deuba said: “In view of Nepal’s high potentials for hydroelectricity generation and export, it is important to have a broad understanding in power export cooperation between our two countries.” 

Deuba further added that cross-border power trade remained a priority agenda during his discussion with Modi. I welcome Prime Minister Modiji’s offer of purchasing electricity from Nepal, he said.

Nepal and India have agreed to finalize the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project at the earliest.

Two sides reached an agreement during the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

In the past few years, two sides are working to finalize DRP but some contentious issues still remain, including investment modality. Authorities say that without intervention from the political leadership, the chances of agreement on DPR remain slim. 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has requested additional air entry routes to Nepal through Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj, and Janakpur.

Deuba made such a request in the bilateral talks with his Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I also requested for the concurrence of near border flight operations to smoothly operationalize the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa,” Deuba told the media after meeting with Modi. 

For a long time, Nepal is requesting air routes but India has not agreed on it. 

Nepal and India have jointly issued a vision statement to expedite the cooperation in the power sector. After the talks between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two leaders agreed on a joint statement.

Prime Minister Deuba appreciated India's recent cross-border electricity trade regulations that have enabled key partners like Nepal to access India's market and trade power with India.

 He also acknowledged with appreciation India's contribution to developing Nepal's power sector, through capacity building and direct support to infrastructure projects related to generation and transmission.

Here is a key highlight of the agreement: 

• That there are unprecedented opportunities for expanding and further strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in the power sector including (a) joint development of power generation projects in Nepal, (b) development of cross-border transmission infrastructure, (c) bi-directional power trade with appropriate access to electricity markets in both countries based on mutual benefits, market demand and applicable domestic regulations of each country, (d) coordinated operation of the national grids and (e) institutional cooperation in sharing latest operational information, technology and know-how.
• To expand such cooperation to include their partner countries under the BBIN framework subject to mutually agreed terms and conditions between all involved parties.
• Based on their respective national policies and climate-change commitments, to make renewable energy production, hydropower in particular, a cornerstone of their energy partnership.
• That Indian investment into Nepal's renewable power sector, in particular the Hydropower sector, has the potential to benefit both the countries by strengthening their economies generating employment, enhancing export earnings and contributing to further development of industrial and financial capacities, and mutually agreed to share of other benefits.
• Nepal invited Indian companies to invest in the development, construction, and operation of viable renewable power projects, including in the Hydropower sector in Nepal, including storage-type projects, through mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Recalling discussions during earlier high-level visits on the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, including during the State Visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India in August 2017, and recognizing the immense benefits for the people of both countries from this project, the two Prime ministers directed their concerned officials to expedite the bilateral discussions towards early finalization of the project’s DPR.
• Both Prime Ministers agreed to prioritize expeditious movement on projects and initiatives on the basis of this joint vision. They agreed to continue supporting each other's national growth and prosperity guided by mutual respect and equality.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to visit Nepal at his convenient time.

In the meeting with Modi, Deuba extended the invitation. “I have invited Prime Minister Modi-Ji for a visit to Nepal. We eagerly look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modiji to Nepal,” Deuba said while addressing the press after bilateral talks. In his first five-year tenure, Modi had visited India four times. 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has taken up a border dispute with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a meeting held on Saturday.

Deuba raised the issue in the bilateral talks with Modi. “We discussed the boundary issue and I urged Modiji to resolve it through the establishment of a bilateral mechanism,” Deuba said.after the meeting with Modi.

In response, Modi urged Deuba not to politicize the border disputes that exist between the two countries.

Addressing a press meeting after the bilateral talks, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla said the two sides had a brief discussion on the boundary issue. There are several mechanisms that involve both countries. We need to have dialogues in a responsible manner, he said. The Indian Foreign Secretary said that given close and friendly relations, India does not wish to politicize the issue.

Nepal reported 11 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 083 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 10 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 277 people underwent antigen tests, of which one was tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 90 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 942 active cases in the country.

Nepal and India signed four agreements during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's three-day visit to India on Saturday.

The two countries signed agreements on International Solar Alliance, technical assistance related to railways, supply of petroleum products and technical expertise between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation.

Earlier, Prime Minister Deuba and his Indian counterpart held a one-on-one meeting at Hyderabad House.

The agreements were signed after the meeting between the delegation of two countries.

As per the technical assistance agreement related to railway, India will help in producing railway manpower.