New Delhi: Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to travel to India in November, which will mark his first official bilateral trip abroad since assuming office in March. Preparations for the anticipated three-day visit, which is slated for the third or fourth week of November, have gained momentum. During the trip, he is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While Shah traveled to the United States in September to address the United Nations General Assembly and discuss regional governance issues, this upcoming journey represents his first formal bilateral outreach. Neither Kathmandu nor New Delhi has formally announced the exact dates of the visit yet.
The reported itinerary features a packed agenda that includes discussions on major infrastructure projects, ongoing border disputes, and cooperation on reconstruction efforts following severe floods. The timing underscores a shift in diplomatic engagement, given Shah's initial caution toward foreign diplomats from neighboring powers like India and China.
The visit also follows a high-profile diplomatic trip to New Delhi in June by Rabi Lamichhane, president of Nepal's ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party. Lamichhane's engagement included a ceremonial reception at the governing party's headquarters, which analysts noted served to encourage broader regional outreach from Kathmandu.