Nepal President arrives on four-day visit

Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a four-day visit. President Yadav, accompanied by a large delegation, was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur on arrival.

The two countries are likely to sign four agreements including that on establishment of the Hetauda Polytechnic Institute, train service in five places along the Nepal-India border, expansion of air service and construction of a conference hall. The visit is in continuation of a series of frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries.

Discussions would also touch on trade, investment, water resources, education and development assistance at the grass root level. He will hold discussions with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. On Tuesday morning, he will be given a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Later, he will visit the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat.

He is scheduled to meet External Minister S.M. Krishna and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad Hose, followed by signing of bilateral agreements.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj will also be meeting Yadav.

Yadav will call on President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan which will be followed by a banquet. He has also programmes in Haridwar and Roorkee. This is President Yadav's first visit to any foreign country after the country was declared Republic in May 2008.

- Asian Tribune -