New Delhi, Nov 23: Nepalese Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa arrived here today on a three-day visit in his capacity as Saarc chairman to discuss issues relating to the grouping and also review with Indian leadership the entire gamut of bilateral ties. Thapa was received by Foreign Secretary Designate Shashank, India's Ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran and Nepalese Charge d' Affaires Pradeep Khapiwada.
Asked whether he was carrying any message for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the outgoing chairman of Saarc, the Nepalese Prime Minister said, "we want that the Saarc summit should take place properly and Saarc should function effectively so that its future is protected.
"This is what we want. This is my message to the Indian Prime Minister," Thapa told reporters here.
He will hold wide-ranging talks tomorrow with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saarc matters. It will also provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review progress in India-Nepal relations.
Ahead of the visit, New Delhi has said it was "fully committed" to the Saarc Charter and hoped "rapid progress" would be made on "substantive issues" before it.
Bureau Report