Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday met visiting Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and discussed issues of mutual interest.
Gandhi and Singh drove down to Rashtrapati Bhawan, where the meeting took place, the Congress said.
During the over half-an-hour meeting, the leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation. They talked of the age-old ties between the two neighbouring countries.
After the meeting, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, “last evening I met Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli. We discussed a wide range of issues concerning our two countries.”
Last evening I met Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli. We discussed a wide range of issues concerning our two countries. pic.twitter.com/X5LSg6b50Z
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 7, 2018
Former Union minister Anand Sharma was also present during the meeting.
Oli is on a three-day visit to India, his first visit abroad after assuming office.
Meanwhile, making his first foreign trip after returning to power in February, Nepal PM Oli made a strong pitch for Indian businessmen to invest in his country by benefiting from its economic liberalisation and being a safe destination for foreign investment.
On their arrival on a three-day visit at the IGI Airport on Friday, Oli and his wife Radika Shakya were received by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Viewed as an important visit amidst a strain in ties, Oli had an informal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The two leaders were believed to have discussed bilateral and regional issues, especially ones that have bedevilled bilateral relations.
Oli’s first foreign visit to India after taking charge as Nepal Prime Minister for the second time keeps up with the tradition of India-Nepal ties under which the prime minister always makes the first visit to India.
(With agencies inputs)