Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held talks on Friday, April 4, in Bangkok, shortly after the conclusion of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

This was the second face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Oli returned to office in July 2024. Their first encounter took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September.

Diplomatic observers note that Oli is keen to secure an official invitation to New Delhi—a gesture that would help de-escalate lingering tensions between the two administrations over a range of unresolved issues. Despite multiple trips to India by Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana, no such invitation has been extended. The Bangkok meeting was no exception; Modi once again refrained from issuing a formal invite.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.  

Both leaders echoed similar sentiments in their social media posts.  

Oli wrote: “Had a warm and heartfelt meeting with my dear friend, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji. 

Our discussions were highly meaningful and constructive. 

I express my appreciation over this cordial exchange.”  

Modi stated: “Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Bangkok. India attaches immense priority to relations with Nepal. We discussed different aspects of India-Nepal friendship, especially in sectors like energy, connectivity, culture and digital technology. We also talked about some of the key positive outcomes from this year’s BIMSTEC Summit, especially in areas of disaster management and maritime transport.”

Prime Minister Oli, who led the Nepali delegation to the summit, arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Arzu Rana, senior advisors, and high-ranking government officials.

Leaders of the CPN-UML, the party Oli heads, welcomed the meeting, saying it helped to advance bilateral relations and opened avenues for future cooperation.  

Bishnu Rijal, a central committee member, posted on X that the encounter contributed meaningfully to foster mutual trust.

“There is no doubt that the resolution of bilateral issues between Nepal and India is only possible through mutual dialogue and the highest-level understanding,” he wrote. “In that regard, the bilateral discussions held during the multilateral meeting can be believed to open doors for further progress.”

The 6th BIMSTEC Summit concluded with the release of the “Bangkok Vision 2030”, a strategic document outlining goals to deepen regional cooperation. The summit endorsed a six-point agenda emphasizing trade expansion, enhanced connectivity, and regional human security.

Held under the theme “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open,” the summit brought together heads of government from member countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Oli underscored the need for greater regional integration to transform the Bay of Bengal region into a “prosperous, resilient, and open” zone. He urged member states to work collectively to overcome global uncertainties and capitalize on opportunities for shared growth.

On the sidelines of the summit, Oli also held separate meetings with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Myanmar’s Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to return to Nepal on Saturday, April 5.