Nepal’s Foreign Minister Expresses Gratitude for India’s Development Contributions Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Amidst recent criticism from the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal regarding India’s treatment of Nepal, the Himalayan nation’s Foreign Minister, Narayan Prakash Saud, expressed gratitude on Wednesday for having India as a neighbor. Saud praised India for its significant contributions to Nepal’s development during the inauguration of a school supported by India.

Saud emphasized the importance of this developmental project, stating that it will provide education to generations of Nepali students, shaping their future careers. The Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, was present at the event.

Saud also conveyed his anticipation of continued support from India for Nepal’s ongoing development.

Ambassador Srivastava underlined the significance of this project as a crucial aspect of the strong development partnership between India and Nepal. This partnership has made substantial progress in recent years, covering various priority sectors of the Nepali government and its people. He assured India’s continued commitment to strengthen this development partnership, aligning it with Nepal’s priorities for the mutual benefit of both nations.

The comments made by the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, in which he described India as both a challenge and an opportunity, had stirred controversy in Nepal. Some considered his remarks unfriendly, leading to calls for protests against Song’s statement regarding a neighboring country.