Nepal PM ends India trip with revised trade treaty

Concluding his five-day India visit on Saturday,Nepals Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal reiterated that Nepal would not alllow its territory to be used for any anti-India activity....

Concluding his five-day India visit on Saturday,Nepals Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal reiterated that Nepal would not alllow its territory to be used for any anti-India activity.

A joint statement said the two sides discussed security concerns relating to the open border between the two countries. The Nepalese side assured that it would not allow its territory to be used for any activity against India and the Indian side also gave the same assurance to the Nepalese side, it said.

A series of agreed steps were listed out in the comprehensive joint statement,which said the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their determination to consolidate and expand the areas of cooperation with a view to taking the relationship to a new height on the basis of mutual respect,understanding and mutual benefit. The steps listed are:

amp;149;Both sides agreed that the Inter Governmental Committee IGC at the level of Commerce Secretaries will meet within the next two months. They completed negotiations and initialled the revised Treaty of Trade and Agreement of Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade,which would contribute to further enhancing bilateral trade.

amp;149; To facilitate Nepals foreign trade,India agreed to the utilisation of its Visakhapatnam port.

amp;149;Foreign Secretaries signed a pact for a goitre control programme in Nepal.

amp;149;To encourage Indian investments,a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement would be concluded and signed at an early date. Also,a new pact on Avoidance of Double Taxation would be completed and signed at the earliest.

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amp;149; The Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues and the Home Secretaries will meet within two months.

amp;149; India to help in developing a National Police Academy in Nepal at Rs 320 crore.

amp;149;India will contribute for development of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences at Dharan and its support in providing Indian faculty.

amp;149;India will start construction of polytechnic for Rs 22 crore.

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amp;149;Construction of two Integrated Check Posts ICPs at the cost of Rs 200 crore will start shortly.

amp;149; Construction of about 660 km of terai roads would be undertaken at Rs 805 crore.

amp;149;Two cross-border rail links to be constructed along the India-Nepal border at Rs 680 crore.

amp;149;Will give technical help for a Central Depository System CDS in Nepal within a year.

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amp;149;India agreed to double scholarships and increase slots for training programmes for Nepalese officials.