With the country now having an elected government after the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, Nepal has stepped up preparations for the 18th South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit scheduled for November this year in Kathmandu.The Foreign Ministry of Nepal says that the SAARC heads of summit will be held in Kathmandu city, Nepal, on the 26th and 27th of next month. The theme of the summit is ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity’. The four-stage 18th Summit will begin on November 22 and conclude on November 27. This will be the third time for Nepal to host the regional summit after the establishment of SAARC in 1985. Nepal had last hosted the 11th SAARC Summit in January, 2002 -- three years behind the schedule. likewise, Temples in Janakpur are now being decorated after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kathmandu via Janakpur on November 25 to take part in the 18th SAARC Summit.Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's foreign policy advisor Dinesh Bhattarai said Saturday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would indeed deliver an address during his scheduled-visits to Janakpur and Lumbini later this month. The Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to reach Janakpur via Janakpur-Bhittamod road section. Repair and maintenance works of different road sections and main temples are being painted in view of Modi's visit. According to the Indian source, Modi will land at Sursand by helicopter and will arrive in Janakpur through land route from Sursand.Bhattarai also told the media that all heads of governments are scheduled to reach Nepal before November 25 for the 18th SAARC summit, which would also see bilateral talks on the sidelines.
