India-Nepal treaty for mutual benefit : Singh
KATHMANDU, Sept. 4.-The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Swaran Sing and the Nepalese Prime Minister Mr. Kirtinidhi Bista, have commended the recently concluded trade and transit treaty and expressed and the hope that it would further the traditional cooperation between two countries say agencies.
They were speaking at a dinner given by the Napalese Prime Minister in honour of Mr. Swaran Singh said it was concluded for mutual benefit and advantage of both the countries.
Mr. Bista said with the goodwill and co-operation of India, the new treaty would help Nepal’s economic add industrial development.
Mr. Bista paid tribute to Mrs. Gandhi’s leadership and said that the people in Nepal wanted India to become prosperous under her dynamic leadership.
Mr. Swaran Singh in his reply said India wanted a strong united and prosperous Nepal which, he felt was always a source of strength to India.
He assured that India was not interested in the political institutions of other counties.
The Indian External Affairs Minister. Mr. Swaran Singh, said here that the Bangladesh issue was not the outcome of the Indo-Pakistan conflict but was a problem between the people of East Bengal and West Pakistan.
“We feel the influx of millions of refugees to India is the responsibility of the international community”, he added.
Mr. Swaran Singh, had a 70 minute meeting last night with King Mahendra of Nepal at the Narayanhiti palace here. They were reported to have discussed matters of mutual interests.
Talking to newsmen after nearly an hour’s of closed-door meeting with Mr. Swaran Singh. Mr. Bista disclosed that Mr. Singh conveyed him Mrs. Gandhi’s renewed invitation to pay a formal visit to India.
“I expressed my willingness to visit India at a convenient date,” Mr. Bişta added.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 5.9.1971