Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli may meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally proposed India’s Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. Foreign ministry sources say Indian officials have informally responded that the meeting would happen if time and schedule permit.
The General Assembly begins on September 10, with high-level discussions scheduled from September 23 to 27. Prime Minister Oli will lead the Nepali delegation. Oli is also scheduled to address the “Summit of the Future” event planned for September 22 and 23.
Modi is traveling to New York primarily to participate in the “Summit of the Future” event. Likewise, he will also attend a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as Quad, in Biden’s hometown in Wilmington on September 21 before flying to New York.
Quad consists of US, India, Japan and Australia.
The meeting between Oli and Modi is expected to take place during Modi’s stay in New York. Nepal’s permanent mission in New York, particularly Permanent Representative Lok Bahadur Thapa, is working to facilitate this meeting.
Modi, however, will not participate in the General Assembly. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly. Jaishankar is scheduled to meet his counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting.
Foreign minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, who will reach New York via Canada, will also meet Jaishankar.
Oli was expected to meet Modi on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for September 4 in Thailand. But the summit was postponed due to political changes in Thailand.
Oli has not yet received an invitation to visit India. He, however, extended an invitation to visit Nepal during Foreign Minister Rana’s visit to India.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to participate in an event organized by the Non-Resident Nepalis before proceeding to New York.
