Senior BJP leader Vijay Chauthaiwale meets Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

Vijay Chauthaiwale, BJP leader and head of the party's foreign affairs department met Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Kathmandu and discussed strengthening India-Nepal relations. He is the fourth senior level Indian dignitary to visit Kathmandu in the last few months to sort out relations damaged over the boundary dispute.

His visit comes days before the scheduled visit of Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali to India – the first senior level visit from Nepal to India this year.

Chauthaiwale tweeted: "Honoured to call on Rt. Hon. PM @kpsharmaoli ji today. It''s a pleasure to be in Kathmandu on the invitation of General Secretary of Nepal Communist Party and Finance Minister Shri Bishnu Paudel ji." He tagged Paduel and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu in his tweet.

The leaders discussed bilateral relations and the political situation in Nepal where the ruling Nepal Communist Party is caught in intra-party squabbles.

Barely a fortnight back, Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla was in Kathmandu and met with the country's top leadership. He also spoke with the Nepali media and gave a speech at a local think tank.

Earlier, Indian Army chief General MM Naravane had travelled Nepal where he held talks with the top leadership. His visit was preceded by Research and Analysis Wing chief Samant Kumar Goel – the first senior level Indian official who met the top Nepal leadership.

The flurry of Indian visits to Nepal are not only to restore ties after Nepal alleged that India had encroached upon its territory while constructing a road between Uttarakhand and Kailash Mansarovar in China but also to ensure that the increasing Chinese influence in Nepal is reduced..