This is the first time that a Nepali PM has been received by his Indian counterpart.
So far the Indian establishment has been deputing a minister of state for foreign affairs on such occasions.
“You are a great leader in the entire South Asia. There is no one like you now,” Dr Singh said while shaking hands with Koirala. Koirala and members of the visiting delegation were driven to the Imperial Hotel at Connought Place in a cavalcade of 40 cars. “The visit has got a flying start already. This had never happened except of course with George Bush, the US President. There is no doubt that the visit has started on a spectacular note,” Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, a member of Koirala’s entourage, told this daily.
The ministers accompanying Koirala said talks would dwell on extending political support to the seven-party alliance while the Maoist rebels, too, are “engaged in a desirable manner”.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma and Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met Koirala in his hotel suite.
“I cannot tell how the talks will proceed. I had come here to pay a courtesy call,” Saran said.
As to what Nepal gains from the current visit will be known only by tomorrow afternoon when both the prime ministers will talk to each other.
According to an AFP report, Indian sources told the Press Trust of India that Dr Singh was likely to announce an immediate grant of Rs 1 billion to ease Nepal’s liquidity crisis.
Earlier, on his departure at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Koirala said his visit to New Delhi would be successful as it was only a goodwill visit.
Koirala was seen off by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli at the TIA’s VVIP lounge. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Subhas Nemwang, senior government officials, diplomats and the president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Sher Bahadur Deuba, were also present.

NEW DELHI, June 6 - Prime Minister G P Koirala has received a warm welcome in New Delhi, as he arrived here Tuesday leading a 42-member high-level delegation in his first foreign trip after the April movement that catapulted him to power again.

In a rare gesture, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself, going against conventional protocol, went to the Indira Gandhi International Airport to welcome Koirala as the Nepal Airlines jet landed here around 5:30 p.m.

As Koirala, clad in Black Bhadgaunle Topi and Daura Suruwal, disembarked, Singh -- his hallmark white Kurta-Pajama and Blue turban -- shook hands and hugged each other and exchanged greetings.

Singh was accompanied by top Indian officials including Assistant External Affairs Minister E Ahmed, Secretary Shyam Saran and ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.

In his official meetings that are scheduled to start on Wednesday, Koirala will hold one-on-one-talks with his counterpart Singh, President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other top officials and Left leader Prakash Karat, initial reports said.

Besides seeking India's backing to the democratization and peace-making process that has just started in Nepal, Koirala is expected to ask India's continued support for reconstruction, hydropower, infrastructure and social-sector development programs.

Koirala is accompanied by Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, Local Development Minister Rajendra Pandey, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Gopal Man Shrestha, Agriculture Minister Mahanta Thakur, State Minister for Women and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal.

Other top officials in the delegation include acting Foreign Secretary Pradip Khatiwada, Industry and Commerce Secretary Bharat Thapa, a team led by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) chief Chandi Dhakal and 13 journalists.

After the Koirala-led Seven Party Alliance (SPA) government came to power in April, India has announced to extend a special economic package to Nepal. While India is understood to have made its own assessment of the situation, Koirala is expected to request development aid worth Nepali Rs 75 billion for the next five years.

Overall, the visit is expected to inject a new lease of life to Nepal-India relations that got stalled after February 1 royal takeover. Prior to Koirala, the last Nepali prime minister to visit India was Sher Bahadur Deuba, who came here on an official visit in September, 2004.

Prime Minister G.P. Koirala on the goodwill visit to India meets his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh and some other key figures of the Indian politics at the Indian Prime Minister's Office, South Block, New Delhi Wednesday.

According to our corresponded Surendra Phunyal, the meeting was centred at Nepal's request for development-aid worth Rs 75 billion for the next five years, over solving the Maoist conflict in the nation and other issues of mutual interest.

Koirala is to meet the Indian President Dr Abdul Kalam, leading government officials and opposition leaders later in the day.

PM Koirala had reached New Delhi yesterday with a 41-membered visiting delegation yesterday in his four-day-long visit to India, for the first time since his appointment after Parliament was reinstated in late April.

PM Koirala's India tour is widely expected to discuss the issues regarding constituent assembly and the settlement of the Maoist arms, besides seeking special economic assistance from New Delhi.

The Nepalese PM's visit to the country's next door neighbour is considered of great significance in the country even when history suggests a lot of controversy over the visits and decisions taken during them.

( Kantipuronline, June 7, 2006, Kathmandau)

Nepal's new Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, has met his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, in the Indian capital, Delhi.

It is Mr Koirala's first foreign tour since taking office in April after King Gyanendra handed over power following weeks of pro-democracy protests.

During the visit the two countries are likely to sign a major aid agreement involving millions of dollars.

India is one of Nepal's key donors, providing military and economic help.