Nepal PM Deuba arrives on India visit

New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba arrived here on Wednesday on a five-day state visit, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj receiving him at the airport in a mark of the importance India places on its relations with the close neighbour.

"A special welcome to a close neighbour! EAM @SushmaSwaraj received @PM_Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba on his arrival on a State Visit to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders

Deuba's visit, his first abroad after assuming office in June, comes days after Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang was in Nepal during which the two sides inked several major agreements to boost energy and economic ties.

The visit also comes amid the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops on the Doklam plateau in Sikkim sector, that has led to escalation in tension between New Delhi and Beijing.

Nepal Prime Minister Deuba and Sushma Swaraj had met in Kathmandu earlier this month, when the two sides are known to have discussed the Doklam issue.

On Thursday, Deuba will hold delegation-level talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi following which the two leaders will remote launch power transmission lines from India to Nepal. Some agreements are expected to be signed following the talks.

The Nepal Prime Minister will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu while Sushma Swaraj and union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will call on the visiting dignitary who is accompanied by a high-level delegation.

Apart from his official engagements in New Delhi, Deuba will also visit Hyderabad, Tirupati and Bodh Gaya.