Pranab Mukherjee: India welcomes Nepal to be part of its growth story

Speaking on the occasion, the Indian President said, "Kathmandu is not only the political capital of Nepal, but also a spiritual centre for the people in our region."

He said, his visit to Nepal is also a kind of pilgrimage – it is a mission of friendship to foster ever greater understanding and cooperation between India and Nepal.

There are no two sovereign nations in the world like India and Nepal, sharing a common culture and having an open border between them. The Government and people of India are committed to further strengthening and deepening this relationship, said the Indian President.

The President said India fondly remembers the support that its freedom fighters received from the leaders and people of Nepal during the struggle against foreign rule.

He said, India wishes the people and the Government of Nepal every success in the important task of implementing its constitution, taking on board all the sections of its society.

The President said as two developing economies, India and Nepal have a shared vision of economic prosperity and sustained development for their respective nations and also the region.

"India believes that to keep pace with the growing aspirations of our people and in order to give them the quality of life that they seek, our focus should remain on creating an enabling environment for their economic progress and promoting peace and political stability," President Pranab Mukherjee said.

Image: IndiaInNepal/Indian Embassy in Nepal Twitter