ย Calling theย India-ย Nepalย ties as “tall as the Himalayas and as deep as theย Indian Ocean,” Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Thursday saidย India’s goodwill towards its neighbor comes with “no strings attached”, however, without naming China, CDS Rawat warned Kathmandu to be cautious when signing agreements with “other countries” in the region.” the canvas and spread of cooperation, friendship and people to people contact betweenย Indiaย andย Nepalย are deep and extensive. But in the present age,ย Nepalย is also opening to other nations including China based on its independent foreign policy,” said General Rawat at the second annual dialogue with theย Nepalย Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) during the virtual meeting.
Speaking on the theme of “Soft Power Dimension:ย India-Nepalย Relations,” CDS Rawat said, “India’s goodwill comes with no strings attached.ย Nepalย is free to act independently in international affairs but must be vigilant and learn from Sri Lanka and other nations which have also signed agreements with other countries in the region.” General Bipin Rawat said it is necessary to strengthen the existing relationship further for the peace and prosperity for both countries who are already “inseparable in every way.”Talking about the economic relations between the two countries, CDS Rawat said, “India’s economic relations withย Nepalย is quite unique although much more could be done. In 2019-2020 economic assistance has crossed Rs 12 billion for development in the various sector of the economy such as agriculture, water resources, energy, infrastructure, and the list can go on and on.”
“The total bilateral trade has reached to the extend USD 8.27 billion.ย India’s exports for the same have been around USD 7.76 billion while the imports intoย Indiaย fromย Nepalย have been USD 508 million,” General Rawat.
CDS said thatย Indiaย accounts for over 30 percent of the Foreign Direct Investment inย Nepalย and over 150ย Indian ventures are also operating inย Nepal, in various fields.
“The balance of trade is much inย India’s favor considering the many essential items have to be imported intoย Nepalย fromย India. As far the investment is concerned,ย Indiaย accounts for over 30 percent of the Foreign Direct Investment inย Nepalย and over 150ย Indian ventures are successfully operating inย Nepalย in various fields such as manufacturing, services, banking, insurance, education, telecom, power sector, and tourism industry,” he said. While concluding his speech, CDS Rawat reiterated the importance of theย bilateral relationship, saying that “Indiaย andย Nepalย are unique and have been in existence for centuries and the bonds are so pure and so strong that aspiration, goodwill, and spirituality between these two nations are as tall as the Himalayas and as deep as theย Indian Ocean.”ย
