Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is likely to visit India soon, on his first official visit abroad after assuming office, indicating that the new government is keen to revive close ties with New Delhi. Indian Ambassador here Rakesh Sood told reporters after his meeting with Nepalese Foreign Minister Gyan Chandra Acharya on Monday that they discussed the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister of Nepal to India.

He, however, said that the date of the visit has not yet been fixed. The visit is likely to take place by the end of this month or the first week of July. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already sent an invitation to his Nepalese counterpart shortly after his election to the top post for an official visit to India. Former prime minister Prachanda last year chose China as the first country to visit after assuming power breaking the established diplomatic tradition. He visited India only after paying a visit to China.

Nepal is likely to visit India as the first leg to any foreign country, before his visits Egypt to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit which will take place from July 11 to July 16, Foreign Ministry sources said.