Kathmandu, Nov 7: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal met Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli. He was accompanied by Ambassador Vinay M Kwatra and other delegation members.
Both sides also exchanged views on the extensive bilateral partnership between India and Nepal. "Productive exchange of views on the bilateral relations between India and Nepal with the Nepali Prime Minister during the courtesy call of General Naravane," the Indian Army said.
Meanwhile, General Naravane conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Nepali counterpart and the people of Nepal. He reaffirmed that he would work to further strengthen the defense cooperation between the two countries. Earlier in the day, General Naravane had visited Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri and addressed the students and staff there.
As the last stop before concluding his tour, General Naravane visited the Indian Embassy where he was briefed about the welfare activities being carried out for roughly over two lakh thirty thousand Indian Army veterans and their families in Nepal. During the visit, Gen Naravane also presented a welfare grant to Havildar Dil Bahadur Chhetri (Retired), a winner of Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest gallantry award of India.
General Naravane has completed a successful and productive three-day visit to Nepal and departed to India later this afternoon. He also thanked the Nepal Army for their warm hospitality before departing for Delhi.
During his visit, he was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari at a ceremony at the President's official residence Shital Niwas in Kathmandu. He was also presented with a sword and scroll during the function.
India also gifted medical equipment including X-ray machines, computed radiography systems, ICU ventilators, video endoscopy units and anesthesia machines for two field hospitals of the Nepali Army. Additional ventilators were also gifted to assist the Nepali Army in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.