In a bid to stimulate association with Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a visit to Kathmandu from February 1 to 2.

The visit comes weeks after Nepal elected a Leftist alliance, which won the first momentous and historic election under the new Constitution of the nation.

“The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level political exchanges between India and Nepal, and reflects the expanding bilateral partnership and the importance that the two countries attach to further strengthening it across diverse sectors,” a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

The visit by Swaraj will be the first big political and diplomatic engagement by the newly elected leaders of Kathmandu.

Extensively,last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to the elected Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli wherein both the premiers had invited each other for a visit.

PM Oli contested the election through an alliance with former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ however he is yet to be officially sworn in.

“The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to hold discussions with political leaders of Nepal on issues of mutual interest, and to advance age-old, specialties of friendship between India and Nepal,” the release added.