Modi greets new Nepalese PM SB Deuba; India provides medical aid
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Sher Bahadur Deuba, the new Prime Minister of Nepal, who won the trust vote in Parliament on Sunday.
Modi called Deuba on Monday to congratulate him on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal and his win in the confidence vote in Parliament.
PM Modi tweeted: “Spoke with Prime Minister @DeubaSherbdr to convey my congratulations and best wishes. We will work together to further enhance the wide-ranging cooperation between India and Nepal, including in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The two leaders committed to work together to enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, recalling the unique and millennia-old people-to-people links that underpin the particular affinity between India and Nepal.
They also spoke on ways and means to further improve cooperation and coordination in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over on Sunday 15 ICU beds to Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, as part of India’s commitment to cooperate with the neighboring country to cope with the pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, India has provided Nepal with nearly USD 6.5 million in grant-in-aid in the form of vital medicines, RT-PCR tests, ventilators, and other essential pharmaceuticals.
In January 2021, Nepal became one of the first countries to get 1 million doses of Covishield vaccines as a gift from India. Besides, the Indian Army also provided the Nepal Army with 1 lakh doses of vaccines as a grant, as well as medical supplies.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
