India on Wednesday said that its leadership has reiterated its support to ongoing efforts of Nepal government in moving constitution implementation process forward through dialogue and taking all sections of its society on board.

In a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs, Indian political leadership conveyed the good wishes of the people and Government of India to the friendly people of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and all round of development. 

The statement comes a day after President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, who is on a five-day state visit to India, held important bilateral meetings in New Delhi.  

In the meeting with Bhandari, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed the same position. However, the statement has not specifically mentioned about the local elections and agitation of Madhes-based parties.

“Both sides noted that India-Nepal relations derive their strength and salience from shared history, common cultural ethos and long years of close and intense people to people contact facilitated by open borders.  The Indian leadership reiterated the importance of its neighbourhood first policy, and the high priority India attaches to strengthening relations with Nepal in every sphere,” the statement reads. 

According to the statement, both sides expressed satisfaction at the intensive bilateral exchanges in recent months at all levels between two countries. The areas of discussions were trade, economic, investment, water resources, energy cooperation, security, post-earthquake reconstruction efforts among others.

“Both the sides reviewed with satisfaction the expanding vistas of bilateral energy cooperation, including development of hydropower projects in Nepal, power trade and development of high-capacity cross-border transmission lines,” reads the statement.

The statement further notes that President of Nepal thanked the Government and people of India for the exceptional hospitality extended to her and to the members of the delegation.

Stating that President Bhandari's state visit as part of the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries provided the opportunity to the two sides to review all aspects of bilateral relations and to reiterate their commitments to take India-Nepal partnership to a new level across diverse sectors for mutual benefit, the statement said the ongoing visit will further deepen the friendly and cooperative ties that exist between India and Nepal.

After completing her engagements in New Delhi, President Bhandari has begun the religious tour of Gujarat and Odisa.  Bhandari is returning home on Friday.