Nepal and India Agree to Deepen Bilateral Relations; Jointly Launch Cross-Border P2P Payments
During high-level bilateral talks in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and India's EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar agreed to significantly expand Nepal-India relations. The meeting marked the official launch of cross-border peer-to-peer (P2P) payment transactions via NCHL and NPCI, the handover of 84 India-assisted post-earthquake reconstruction projects, and a new pact to develop a "voice-first" digital translation platform.
The latest bilateral dialogue between Nepal and India has delivered major advancements across digital infrastructure, post-earthquake recovery, and financial connectivity. In their meeting in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reviewed a wide array of cooperative sectors, ranging from trade, energy partnerships, and water resources management to cultural and sporting ties. The official operationalisation of the NCHL-NPCI cross-border P2P payment gateway fulfills a key digital milestone originally agreed upon in June 2023, promising to make retail retail transfers seamless for citizens of both nations. The relationship was further cemented by the formal transition of 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage sites rebuilt with Indian aid, alongside a forward-looking partnership between Kathmandu University and India's Bhashini Division to build AI-driven, voice-first digital public infrastructure.