 His Excellency, Right Honourable Pushkamal Dahal Prachand, Prime Minister of Nepal. Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji. Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guests, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to today's ceremony. We shall begin by witnessing the joint inauguration of projects. First, is the handing and taking over of Kurtha Baijal Pura section of Railway Line and launch of operationalization of an Indian railway cargo train from Batnaha, India to Nepal Custom Yard, which is newly constructed rail link under Indian grant. We will begin by playing a video which depicts the salient features of both these projects. India and Nepal enjoy multifaceted bilateral relationship based on age or linkages of history, culture, tradition and religion. The long-standing Indo-Napal relationship have been given a renewed momentum in the last few years by Government of India and Honourable PM, Shri Narendra Modi. It is getting more stronger this time with the inauguration of goods broad gauge railway services from Batnaha to Nepal Custom Yard under the Jogbani-Biratnagar Rail Line project and handover of the second phase of passenger train service from Kurtha to Bijalpura under the Jairnagar-Badhibas Rail Line project built under Government of India's grant assistance and being executed by Irkon International Limited. The connectivity between Batnaha and Nepal Custom Yard is expected to cut transportation costs and delays for train between Nepal and the Indian seaports of Kolkata and Haldia significantly. This eight-kilometer line comprises of one take-off station at Batnaha in India and traverses through the Indian and Nepal Custom Yards at the international border. In April of 2022, Jairnagar-Badhibas Rail Line project's first phase from Jairnagar to Kurtha was inaugurated. The second phase connecting Kurtha to Bijalpura covers a total of 17.4 kilometers and this stretch is dotted with five stations namely Kurtha, Pippradi, Lohak Bhatti, Singyahi and Bijalpura. India wants its economic prosperity to bring developments in its entire region, especially to our neighbours. Sapkasaad, Sapkavikas, Sapkavishwas, Sapkaprayas applies not just to an Atmanilbhar Bharam but beyond our borders to our friends and neighbours as well. Now I would request both the Prime Ministers to jointly unveil the E-plug for handing and taking over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of Railway by pressing the launch button. Thank you, sir. Again, I would request both the Prime Ministers to jointly unveil the E-plug for launch and operationalization of Indian Railway Cargo Train from Batnaha to Nepal Custom Yard. Sir, now I request both the Prime Ministers to jointly flag off the inaugural run of an Indian Railway Cargo Train from Batnaha to Nepal Custom Yard. We will be getting live feed through the Railtail Network and I would request the flags from both the Prime Ministers to wave off the train. Thank you, sir. Next, we will witness inauguration of Integrated Checkpost ICPs at Nepal-Gunch Nepal and Rupadiha India and the groundbreaking ceremony of ICPs at Sunoli India and Bhairava Nepal. We will begin by playing a video which depicts the salient features of both these projects. Enhancements of physical connectivity with our neighbouring countries is a key aspect of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi's Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas vision being extended to our neighbourhood. It is also one of the key policy goals of India's Neighbourhood First policy. Neighbourhood Firsts is the priority of our government and to increase cross-border connectivity is a priority of this policy. Building on the Prime Minister's vision and to connect people across the 1,850-kilometre Indo-Nepal border, Integrated Checkposts or ICPs are being added to the two that already exist at Raksal Bhair-Gunj and Jogmani Birat Nagar Borders. Today, during the landmark visit of Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, the ICPs at Rupadiha Nepal-Gunj is ready for inauguration and the groundbreaking ceremony of ICPs at Sanoli Bhairava is being undertaken. These improved links developed under Indian grant assistance will supplement the efforts of easing and modernising cross-border movement. Situated close to the Buddhist circuit, the ICPs will serve as a gateway to world-herited sites like Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. These Integrated Checkposts will house all agencies for seamless movement of goods and people under one roof, connecting people and redefining the very meaning of trade and travel across borders. The increase in the ICPs across Indo-Nepal borders will surely bring the people of the two countries closer than ever before, standing as a testament to the timeless friendship between two great nations. Now, I would request both the Prime Ministers to kindly jointly unveil the E-plug for inauguration of ICPs at Nepal-Gunj and Rupadiha by pressing the launch button. Again, I would request both the Prime Ministers to jointly unveil the E-plug depicting the groundbreaking of ICPs at Sanoli and Bhairava. Next, we have the groundbreaking ceremony of phase two facilities under the Motihari Amlaik-Gunj petroleum pipeline. We will again begin by playing a video which depicts the salient features of the project. With open borders and a longivous sharing of history, culture, and tradition for India and Nepal, the connection is special. Prosperity is our common goal. Our friendship is time-tested and unique. As immediate neighbors and close friendly nations, peace, stability, and economic prosperity of Nepal is our shared objective. Three years ago, a new saga was written in the India-Nepal relationship with the commissioning of South Asia's first transnational petroleum product pipeline from Motihari India to Amlaik-Gunj in Nepal on 10th September 2019 by honorable Prime Ministers of India and Nepal. In the last three years, more than 2.8 million metric tons of HSD has been pumped at Nepal Oil Corporation Amlaik-Gunj terminal, which has resulted in huge recurring saving to Nepal. And now, with renewed vigor, the government of India and government of Nepal are poised to script the next chapter in this historic project with the implementation of phase two of MAPM at a cost of rupees 183 crore. Construction of Nepal's first fully-automated smart terminal at Amlaik-Gunj, which will have capacity of loading 50 trucks, that is, 1,000-kilometer product every hour, which will have the capacity to cater to 80% demand of Nepal in single shift. Construction of 8,200-kilometer of petrol tank at Amlaik-Gunj will enable pumping of petrol in this pipeline, thereby utilizing full potential of this landmark project. The story of redefining Nepal's energy infrastructure continues. And today, the honorable Prime Minister of India, Shree Narendra Modi, an honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Shree Pushpa Kamal Dehal, will lay the foundation of phase two of MAPM. Now, I would request both the Prime Ministers to jointly unveil the e-plug, marking the laying the foundation of this project by pressing the launch button. Next, we have the groundbreaking ceremony of the Indian portion of Gorakhpur New Butwal transmission line being built as a joint venture between PGCIL and NEA. I first request both the Prime Ministers to jointly unveil the e-plug for the project by pressing the launch button. We will now play a video depicting the salient features of this project. A story of kinship that goes beyond the distinction of frontiers, connecting the hearts of the people of two nations united by fate itself. A bond woven with threads of history, culture, tradition, religion, and language. The Nepal cooperation that knits in political, sociocultural, and economic engagements have paved the way for a developmental alliance securing overall progress and benefit of the people of both nations. The Gorakhpur New Butwal transmission project is yet another significant milestone that is being added to this forward-looking partnership. Building energy bridges between the two countries, the Indian portion of the Gorakhpur New Butwal 400KV double-circuit quadline is being established by a joint venture of Nepal Electricity Authority and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited at a cost of about 462 crore Indian rupees and shall be commissioned in 24 months. The total length of the Indian portion of the project is around 120 kilometers, which further traverses through the New Butwal, New Damoli, Ratmate, Dhalkibar, and inner universities of Nepal. That'll help power the growth in Nepal. As Nepal looks to ramp up its idle production, a number of projects have been planned for evacuation of surplus power. The legacy of our past is a priceless gift. Connected by history, the nations have joined hands to give shape to and inspire a progressive present together destined to celebrate a magnificent and vibrant tomorrow. And towards this promising future, today, the honorable Prime Minister of India and the honorable Prime Minister of Nepal in the groundbreaking ceremony set into motion, the construction works of the Gorakhpur New Butwal 400KB double-circuit quadline. Ladies and gentlemen, we now have the exchange of seven documents signed between India and Nepal. First, we will see the exchange of the revised India-Nepal Treaty Transit. From the Nepalese side, the exchange will be done by Mr. Ramesh Rijal, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal, and from the Indian side, Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister. Thank you, sir. Next, we have the exchange of MOU for extension of cross-border petroleum pipelines from Amlekan Chitwan and Siliguri Jhapa and construction of terminals. From the Nepalese side, may I request Mr. Ramesh Rijal, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and from the Indian side, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs. Thank you, ministers. Next, we have the exchange of MOU between the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Nepal, and the Sushma Swaraj Institute for Foreign Service, India. From the Nepalese side, Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to India, and from the Indian side, Shri Navin Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal. Next, we have the exchange of MOU for development of ICP at Dodra Chandini. From the Nepalese side, Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Commerce and Commerce Secretary, Governor of Nepal, and from the Indian side, Shri Navin Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal. Thank you, sir. Next, we have the exchange of Project Development Agreement of Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project. From the Nepalese side, Mr. Sushil Bhatta, CEO, IBM, and on the Indian side, Shri Anil Sharma, CMD, SJVN. Thank you, sir. Next, we have the exchange of MOU for development of Phukot-Karnali Hydroelectric Project. On the Nepalese side, Mr. Surya Prasad Rijal, MD, VUCL, and on the Indian side, Shri R. K. Vishnoi, CMD, NHPC. And now, the exchange of MOU between NPCIL and NCHL for cross-border payments. On the Nepalese side, Mr. Neelish Pradhan, CEO of NCHL, and on the Indian side, Shri Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPIL. Excellencies, this concludes the exchange of agreement ceremony. I now request the spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry to conduct the rest of the proceedings. Honourable Prime Ministers, Honourable Ministers, members of delegation from both sides, friends from the media. Now, I welcome you to the press statements following the meeting that has held between the leaders. May I now request Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narayanan Modi, to make his remarks to the media. Sir. Your Excellency, Pradhan Matri Prachandji, both delegations' Sadastya, media ke hamare sath hi, namaskar. Sbse pehle to mai Pradhan Matri Prachandji ka aur unke Prachandji mandal ka bhart me hardik swaghat karta hum. Mujhe aad hai, nau saal pehle hain. 2014 hain. Karebhar sambhanne ke 3 mhenne ke bhihtar bhe ne Nepal ke apne pehli yatra ki thi. Ose main main ne Bharat-Nepal sambandhon ke liye ek heat formula, HIT, diya tha. Highways, highways aur transways. Mene kaha tha ki Bharat aur Nepal ke bhiht aise sambhar sthapit karenge ke hamare borders, hamare bhiht barriers na bane. Tuxki jaga pipeline se teel ka niryat hona chahiye. Sajaan nadhiyon ke upar bheej banane chahiye. Nepal se Bharat ko bhijali niryat karne ke liye suvidhaye banaye chahiye. Friends, aar nau saal baat mujhe kahite huye khushi hain ki hamare pater se baaki main heat hain. Pichle nau saalo mein hamne ane ek shetro mein kahi uplabdiya haasil ki hain. Birganj main Nepal ki pehli ICP banaye gahi. Bharat-Nepal ke bhijh hamare ek shetra ki pehli cross border petroleum pipeline banaye gahi. Hamare bhijh pehli broad gauge rail line sthapit ki gahi. Seema par nahi transmission lines ka nirman kiya gaya. Ab ham Nepal se 450 megawatt chahadik bhijali hain ayaat kar rahe hain. Agar ham nau saal ki uplabdiya ka banan karne laginge to pura din nikar jahiye hain. Friends, aar main hain aar pradhanbar ji prasan ji ne bhavishme apni partnership ko super heat banane ke liye bhaahse maat moon nire liye hain. Aar chan transit agreement sampanna kiya gaya hain. Isme Nepal ke logon ke liye nae rail routes ke sath sath bharat ke inland waterways ki suvidha ka bhi pradhan kiya gaya hain. Ham ne nae rail links sthapit kar physical connectivity ko bharane ka nirne liya. Sath sath bhartiya rail samstano me Nepal ke rail karmiyon ko prashikshan pradhan karne ka bhi nirne liya gaya hain. Nepal ke sudhur pastimik shedra se connectivity ko bharhava dinne ke liye shirsha aur jula ghat me do aur pool bana hain jahiye hain. Cross border digital payment ke liye uske madhyam se financial connectivity me uthaya gaya kadamo ka ham swagat karthe hain. Is ka laap hajaron bidyaar thi lakhon tourist aur tir theatron ke sath sath medical treatment ke liye bharat aaye marijon ko bhi milega. Teen ICP ke nirmaad se arthik connectivity sudradh hogi. Pichle saal ham ne power sector me sayok ke liye ek landmark vision document apnaya tha. Isko aage bhati huye aaj bharat aur Nepal ke beech long term power trade agreement sampann kia gaya hain. Iske antarghat ham ne aane wale das warso me Nepal se das hazaar megawatt bhejli aayaat karne ka laksha rakha hain. Fukuot karanali aur lower arun hydroelectric pariyozhra ho par huye samjyote se bidyaat sitra me sayok ho aur bal mila hain. Motihari amlekh gan petroleum pipeline ke sakaratmak prabhaw ko dekhte huye is pipeline ko chitvan tak lejane ka nirne liya gaya hain. Iske aalawa silik hoori se purvi Nepal me jhapa tak ek aur nahi pipeline bhi manayi jaaye ge. Sath sath chitvan aur jhapa me nae storage terminal bhi lagaye jaaye ge. Nepal me ek fertilizer plant sthapit karne ke liye apasi sayok par bhi hamari sahamati hui hain. Friends Bharat aur Nepal ke dharmik aur sanskritik saman bahut purane hain aur bahut majboot hain. Is sunder kadhi ko aur bhajboot hi de ne ke liye pradhan matri prachan ji aur main ne nishthe kya hain ki Ramayana sarkit se sambandit pari ho janao me teji lai jaane chahiye. Hama apne riston ko Himalaya jeetani umchahi de ne ke liye kaam karte rahenge aur ishi bhawna se hum sabhi buddh wo ka chahi boundary ka ho ya koi aur vishay sabhi ka samadhan karenge. Excellency pradhan matri prachan ji haap kal indoor aur dharmik sahar ujjain ki yatra karenge. Mujhe viswaaz hai ki aap ki ujjain yatra urjama hi hogi aur pasupadinaj se maha kaleswar ki siyatra mein aapko aajhat mein anubhuti bhi hoge. Bahat bahat, dhanewaad. Thank you, sir. May I now call upon the Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal to make his remarks, sir. Your Excellency Sri Narendra Modi ji member of delegation from both sides friends from media, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi ji for your kind words. I am equally touched by your warm welcome and generous hospitality. This is my fourth visit to India as the Prime Minister of Nepal. I fondly recall my previous visit in September 2008 and then twice in September and October 2016. I bring with me the greeting and best wishes of the government and people of Nepal. We are happy to see the remarkable transformation of India's economic and development landscape under the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji. I congratulate Prime Minister Modi ji on completion this week of nine years in government with far-reaching achievement on many fronts. The relations between Nepal and India are age-old and multifaceted. These relations stand on the solid foundation built on the one hand by the rich tradition of civilizational, cultural, socio-economic linkage and on the other by the two countries from commitment to the time-tested principle of sobering and equality, mutual respect, understanding and cooperation. Today, as Prime Minister Modi ji mentioned, we made an extensive review of the progress in our relation and renewed our commitment to further strengthen this relation and cooperation. I appreciate Prime Minister Modi ji Modi ji, Nekbar Hoot, first policy. In our meeting today, we discussed the ways to further strengthen cooperation in diverse areas, including trade, transit, investment, hydropower development, power trade, irrigation, agriculture, connectivity, including air entry routes, railways, bridge, transmission line, expansion of petroleum pipeline, construction of integrated check posts, as well as cultural and people-to-people contact. As you all witnessed, Prime Minister Modi ji and I jointly launched various projects through remote inauguration, flagging up and ground-breaking. A number of agreement and MOUs have also been exchanged. We reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the hydroelectricity project in Nepal and toward the construction of cross-border transmission line. It is one of the most important elements of our economic partnership. Nepal's hydro power can not only contribute to our economic, economies and energy security, but also serve as an important factor to realize our climate ambition. I appreciate India's import of 452 megawatt of power from Nepal and requested Prime Minister Modi ji for approval of the import of additional 2,200 megawatt of power from Nepal, including 456 megawatt upper Tamakoshi. I thank Prime Minister Modi ji for positive response. Looking ahead, an agreement on the long-term power trade has been completed. On this agreement, India will import 10,000 megawatt of power from Nepal in the next 10 years. This is a major development in enhancing cooperation in this area based on the joint vision statement that the two Prime Minister issued in April 2022. I also appreciated India's willingness to facilitate the export of hydro power from Nepal to Bangladesh through India. We have agreed that export up to 50 megawatt of power from Nepal to Bangladesh via India would commence soon and the three countries would work out an agreement to this effect soon. Today, we also witnessed the signing and exchange of the project development agreement for the development of 669 megawatt lower-own hydro power project and the MOU on the development of 480 megawatt Phukot-Karnali hydro power project. These projects provide a fresh momentum for power sector development and cross-border trade. Prime Minister Modiji and I agreed to advance the Panche Sur multi-purpose project by concluding the DPR within three months. For this purpose, we have directed our respective officials to expedite bilateral discussion. The modalities of implementation will be concluded within one year after the approval of DPR by the two governments. We welcome the construction of the Tanakhpur link canal and agreed that water will be released from Tanakhpur barrage to irrigation command area of Nepal through this canal in a phase-wise manner based on the necessary facilities on the Nepali side. I am happy to state that the vital transmission line project under ELOC-4 will commence soon. Prime Minister Modiji and I discussed other aspects of the cooperation in water resources, including irrigation. We also discussed to resolve the problem of inundation and take appropriate measures for flood control. We have directed our officials to hold meetings of bilateral mechanisms at the earliest to address the issues and find ways for further cooperation before the onset of money. We discussed the promotion of trade and the ways of reducing Nepal's increasing trade deficit with India. India is Nepal's largest trading partner. I have requested Prime Minister Modiji for non-reciprocal market access to India with more flexible and easy quarantine procedure for Nepal's agricultural products and simplified rules of origin for other products. We also discussed the establishment of well-equipped testing labs along the major border points and formalizing of the arrangement for mutual recognition of test certificates. I requested Prime Minister Modiji to lifting of the anti-dumping duty on Nepali-jewed products. Integrated check posts and dry ports are crucial for trade facilitation as well as for seamless cross-border movement of goods and people. Prime Minister Modiji and I jointly inaugurated the ICP at Nepal-Ghansh Rupediya border and performed remote ground-breaking of the ICP at Bhairava, Sunuli border. Similarly, we witnessed the exchange of the MOU on-building of an integrated check post and dry-ported Dodara Chandani. The revised trade and transit, the revised Treaty of Transit, was signed and exchanged today. We have also agreed to direct early convening of the Commerce Secretary-Label mechanism to initiate the process for review of the Treaty of Trade. The MOU between the NPCIL and NCHL signed today will ease the cross-border payments much needed by the business people, students, pilgrims and travelers of both Nepal and India. We just witnessed the ground-breaking of the Phase 2 of MOU of MOU Petroleum Pipeline. We look forward to its early construction. We have also reached an agreement for the extension of MOU Petroleum Pipeline up to Chiton and construction of a new cross-border petroleum pipeline from Silgudi to Japa on a grant basis. Prime Minister Modiji and I jointly flagged off the cargo rail service between Batnaha and Viratnagar, Nepal Custom Yards. The passenger rail service between Jairanagar to Kurtha has been extended to Bijalpura. I thank the Government of India for its generous assistance in constructing these railway links. We also held discussions on the early completion of the works in the remaining segment and sustained operation of this railway through training and capacity building of Nepali Railway Personal. We discussed about Nepal's request for additional air entry route. Nepal welcomes India's positive indication of air entry route for bilateral flights. It is operationally feasible for ATR aircraft. We request for approval of high-altitude additional air entry route from Mahendra Nagar at an early date. We appreciate India's approval for near-border flight operation in the Gautambuddha International Airport in Bhairava, Nepal through publishing ILS Procedure in the AIP to enhance safety and efficiency of the flight operation. We'd like to have regular flights from Nepal's newly-built international airport of Bhairava and Pokhara to and from various cities of India. Prime Minister Modiji and I have agreed to promote cooperation in the field of agriculture. We look forward to early conclusion of MOU and cooperation in agriculture and in the field of livestock and we are thankful to the government of India for the gift of improved breed of livestock and hope to receive the plasm of major cash crop, particularly of the cash crop of the sugarcane and coffee. Prime Minister Modiji and I discussed the boundary matter. I asked Prime Minister Modiji to resolve the boundary matter through the established bilateral diplomatic mechanism. I commanded the role-played and initiative taken by Prime Minister Modiji during India's G20 presidency as well as SCO chairmanship including forgiving voice to the issues of concern to the global south. Nepal is happy to join India's multilateral initiative of the international solar alliance and more recently the international big cat alliance. As India celebrates Azadika Amrit Mahotsab, I congratulate India for all its achievements, be it in the economic growth or industrialization, infrastructure, development or science and technology, poverty, elevation or expansion of social security scheme and many other fronts. Nepal see India's advancement as the opportunity for Nepal. We also discussed about the establishment of fertilizer plant in Nepal in joint venture and we will try our best to work together for the successful completion of the project. India is Nepal's close neighbor and important partner for the development and prosperity. As Nepal moves ahead on the path of graduating from LDC status by 2026, India's continued support and goodwill remains important for us. We have agreed to maintain the momentum generated by this visit and take effective measure for the implementation of the agreement and understanding reached today and earlier. Today I am really touched with the explanation of Excellency Prime Minister Modiji about the agricultural development in Nepal and about the nano fertilizer project and how we can cooperate. It is touching for me. I think that it is touching for the Nepalese people as well. I have extended cardial invitation to Prime Minister Modiji for a visit to Nepal. I look forward to welcoming him in Nepal soon. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. That concludes the press statements. Thank you all for joining. Please remain seated as the dignitaries leave.