KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle held direct talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Nepal-India relations and regional issues during the NDTV World Summit 2026 in New Delhi, India.
Speaking at a session titled “A World Between Orders,” Wagle praised India’s assistance to Nepal during recent disasters.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Wagle referred to the recent disasters in Rasuwa and Bhotekoshi linked to climate change, as well as India’s support following Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake.
“As a Nepali minister, I can say that India was present within the first few hours during both the recent disasters and the earthquake, providing us with extraordinary support,” Wagle said. “Nepal is deeply grateful for this assistance.”
Wagle also highlighted the potential for institutionalizing cooperation at bilateral, trilateral, and sub-regional levels in areas including disaster response, nutrition, and clean energy.
Responding to the proposal, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasized the importance of formal institutional frameworks wherever feasible, citing the International Solar Alliance as an example.
However, he noted that like-minded countries have increasingly been adopting flexible approaches to cooperation, pursuing initiatives as needed and placing greater emphasis on achieving tangible results.