Prime Minister Oli conferred guard of honor in New Delhi

‘FRIENDSHIP MOST IMPORTANT’

KATHMANDU, April 7: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was conferred the guard of honor at the Presidential house in New Delhi, India on Saturday.

Upon receiving the guard of honor, Prime Minister Oli thanked the government of India for the guard of honor and said that friendship with neighbors was the most important.

“I would like to thank the government of India for the Guard of Honor as we renew our historical friendship in a fruitful way by looking forward,” said Oli.

“Friendship is the most important and there is no comparison with friendship. Any treatment any agreement, everything starts from friendship. With our neighbors, particularly with India, we first expect friendship,” he added.

Oli further said the friendly relations between Nepal and India would move ahead as per the people’s aspiration adding, “Joint efforts have to be made to alleviate poverty by uplifting the living standard of the people in the region.”

He also noted that his visit was aimed at further expanding the friendly relations existing between the two countries at the government and people’s level.

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli was welcomed to the ceremonial reception at the Forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The national anthem of Nepal and India were played on the occasion.

Prime Minister Oli, who is on a three-day state visit to India will also pay a courtesy call on President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

Following the meeting with the President, Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Oli.

At 11:00 am, Prime Minister Oli will lay a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before leaving for Hyderabad House. At Hyderabad House, the Prime Minister will have a one-on-one meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi before holding delegation level talks, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier on Friday, PM Oli had held a one-to-one meeting with his Indian counterpart Modi at the Indian Prime Minister’s residence at Lokkalyanmarga.

Also today, a joint press conference will be held in the presence of high-ranking officials of the two countries. This will be followed by a courtesy call on Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu while Home Minister Rajnath Singh will call on Prime Minister Oli.

Later this evening, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a civic reception organized by the India foundation.

On the third and final day, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to visit select research stations of the GP Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar of Uttarakhand and also receive an honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from the University.

On the same evening after flying back to Delhi, the Prime Minister will return home by a chartered flight of Nepal Airlines.