Indian Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar called on President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday and discussed various facets of Nepal-India bilateral relations.

During the meeting at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office, President Paudel emphasised the need for cooperation and assistance between Nepal and India in connectivity, mitigating the effects of climate change and hydropower development.

According to Kiran Pokharel, press adviser to the President, President Paudel stressed that saving mountains and water resources is a common agenda and it is necessary to work together on the issues seriously.

President Paudel said agriculture, energy and development of tourism and human resources are Nepal’s priorities and asked the Indian minister for cooperation in the sectors.

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said India is aware of Nepal’s prospects, adding it will continue to cooperate in all fields.

Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday morning leading an Indian delegation to the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India joint commission.

Soon after the meeting, the Indian minister called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar.

Jaishankar was received by his Nepali counterpart NP Saud upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport among other senior officials of the government as well as the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The minister arrived on a short trip to Kathmandu leading the Indian delegation to the highest level bilateral mechanism between Nepal and India entrusted to review the entire status of bilateral ties.