THe Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has said that he is looking forward to hold bilateral discussions with other South Asian Heads of State and Governments on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit which gets underway in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

There has been intense speculation that the SAARC Summit might provide an opportunity for a meeting between Modi and the Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

In a departure statement, Modi also expressed hope that the SAARC Summit will lead to concrete outcomes, particularly with regard to various initiatives on enhancing connectivity that have been under discussion for a long time.

"Although this is my first SAARC Summit, during the last six months, I have interacted extensively with leaders of SAARC countries beginning with their auspicious presence at my swearing-in ceremony. Development of close relations with our neighbours is a key priority for my Government,” the Prime Minister said.

Pointing out that this is his second visit to Nepal within four months, Modi said this reflects the importance India attaches to its unique and special relations with Nepal.

"`There has been significant progress in the implementation of the decisions taken during my visit to Nepal in August 2014. I look forward to reviewing the progress in our relations with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other Nepalese leaders. We also hope to conclude some concrete agreements in the areas of connectivity and development cooperation,'' he added.

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