Kathmandu: India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah in Kathmandu on Thursday, with discussions focusing on key bilateral issues and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

The meeting took place at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Kathmandu. Misri is on a two-day official visit to Nepal, primarily aimed at holding discussions and making preparations for Prime Minister Balendra Shah's proposed visit to India.

During the meeting, Shah thanked India for providing relief materials and assistance to Nepal following the floods in August. Both sides also discussed areas of mutual interest and ways to deepen bilateral engagement.

Before meeting the Nepal Prime Minister, Misri held bilateral talks with his Nepalese counterpart, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. The two officials discussed several issues of mutual interest in the context of upcoming high-level engagements between the countries.

Misri also paid courtesy calls on Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. He further met Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal.

The discussions during these meetings focused on strengthening cooperation in economic affairs, energy, infrastructure development and connectivity.

India and Nepal share longstanding historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. The two neighbouring countries continue to cooperate across several sectors, including trade, infrastructure, energy and development partnerships.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah's proposed visit to India is being viewed as an opportunity to provide fresh momentum to bilateral relations.

Misri's visit is also in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, which places priority on building strong and comprehensive relationships with neighbouring countries.