The official visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Nepal marks a new chapter in bilateral relations, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday according to dpa. The relationship between India and Nepal has entered a new phase, "said ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin in Kathmandu, referring to the visit as "successful". Swaraj arrived in the Himalayan nation late Friday to attend a meeting of both countries' foreign ministries, which last took place 23 years ago. "Delhi places Nepal ties on high priority," Swaraj said at the start of her visit. On Saturday, Swaraj held high-level meetings with Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, as well as the country's parliamentary speaker and opposition leaders. The visit is intended to pave the way for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's August 3 visit to Nepal, where he is expected to address parliament. The two countries are also seeking to deepen economic ties. Nepal, which suffers widespread power outages on a daily basis, is seeking Indian support to build hydroelectric power plants.
