Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on September 18, with the two discussing deeper cooperation between Nepal and India, particularly in economic relations, energy and connectivity. Jaishankar also expressed condolences over the lives and property lost in Nepal’s recent floods. But the meeting is attracting additional attention because of what may come next. The Indian Express reports that Nepal and India are working toward a possible visit by Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah to India in the second half of November. According to the newspaper, Wagle’s Delhi meetings—including discussions with Jaishankar and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman—are helping prepare the groundwork for that potential visit. https://indianexpress.com/arti... Wagle’s discussions also covered cross-border infrastructure, electricity and clean energy, investment, trade, transportation and economic cooperation. In a separate meeting with Sitharaman, the two sides discussed Nepal’s post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as expanding trade and connectivity. Wagle subsequently said publicly that Balen is expected to visit India by the end of the year, although an exact date has not yet been officially announced. For Nepal, the potential trip would be significant. It would give Balen an opportunity for direct high-level engagement with Nepal’s largest neighbor at a time when the two countries are discussing major issues involving energy, trade, infrastructure, investment and disaster recovery. For now, Balen’s India visit remains expected rather than formally confirmed. But Wagle’s high-level meetings in Delhi suggest preparations for closer Nepal–India engagement are already underway. https://newsonair.gov.in/eam-j... https://www.facebook.com/10008...