Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud, who is in Dhaka to participate in the Indian Ocean Conference 2023, has prioritized bilateral discussions. Saud met Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the conference on Friday.
In a tweet post, Jaishankar said he had a good first meeting with Nepal’s foreign minister NP Saud. “Discussed further steps in our steadily expanding partnership. Spoke about energy, connectivity, and our enduring people-to-people ties,” he wrote in his tweet post.
A good first meeting with FM N.P. Saud of Nepal. Congratulated him on his new responsibility.
Discussed further steps in our steadily expanding partnership. Spoke about energy, connectivity, and our enduring people to people ties. pic.twitter.com/D6w2mAtUDp
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 12, 2023
The meeting was attended by heads of delegation of the respective countries in Dhaka.
“The two ministers expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of Nepal-India relations and discussed ways to further consolidate cooperation in the areas of trade, transit, connectivity, and hydroelectricity, among others,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
At a time when questions are being raised about Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India, the meeting between the two foreign ministers is seen with significance. Saud may also travel directly to India to arrange Prime Minister Dahal’s India visit.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Saud held a virtual conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen. “On the occasion, the two ministers took stock of various aspects of Nepal-Bangladesh relations and agreed to work together to enhance cooperation in areas of trade, transit, investment, energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges, among others,” the ministry added in the statement.
Foreign Minister Saud is scheduled to address the conference on Saturday. He is also scheduled to meet the heads of delegations of Japan, Singapore, and the United States, according o the statement.
The Indian Ocean Conference was started in 2016 in Singapore with the participation of 30 countries.
