Kathmandu. Nepal government has endorsed a new foreign policy. The new policy drafted sometime ago by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has been approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.

Nepal has made amendments in its foreign policy after a long interval. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali had consulted with experts at different phases while preparing the draft of the foreign policy.  The MoFA had sent a proposal  to the Cabinet in which all previous policies had been changed while keeping the policies of ‘Non Alignment’ and ‘Panchsheel’ intact.

The new foreign policy has been drafted at a time when Nepal has a very warm relationship with China and a tepid one with India. The new policy is expected to define Nepal-India relationship in a new perspective.

Last year India issued its political map including Nepal’s territory and constructed a road on Nepali land along the western border. Nepal protested against it and proposed for a dialogue to resolve the issue. India, however, was reluctant for a discussion on the topic. So, Nepal drafted a new map, including Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura,  and made amendment in the constitution to legalize the map. After that, the two countries have not been able to hold diplomatic talks. Ending the long communication gap, Indian Army chief is visiting Nepal this month.

There are anticipations that the new foreign policy will not only redefine the relationships with the neighbors but also with Europe and the Americas.