Kathmandu, Nov 23: Nepalese Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa left Kathmandu for New Delhi today for a three-day visit during which he will call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and discuss the progress of SAARC and issues of bilateral cooperation. Thapa's India visit is part of a ten-day tour in his capacity as the chairman of the south Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), which will also take him to Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Pakistan.

Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport before his departure, Thapa said his visit will mainly focus on the issues relating to the forthcoming Saarc summit.

But Thapa evaded a question on whether he will discuss Maoist problem with Vajpayee, saying when two friends meet all the bilateral issues may come up. Thapa will also call on President APJ Abdul Kalam and other senior leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Besides matters relating to Saarc, bilateral issues like economic cooperation, furthering trade relations will be discussed, according to foreign ministry officials.

During the tour, Thapa will hold consultative meetings regarding ways to conduct the 12th Saarc summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in January next year.

Bureau Report