Kathmandu. Indian Chief of Army Staff Dhiraj Seth landed in Kathmandu this afternoon for a four-day official visit to Nepal.

President Ram Chandra Poudel will confer the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army to Chief of Army Staff Seth at a special ceremony at the Office of the President on Thursday, according to NA Spokesperson Rajaram Basnet. The two CoAS chiefs are scheduled to hold bilateral talks at the Nepali Army Headquarters tomorrow.

Military relations between Nepal and India have been one of the long-standing close and historical ties. The armies of both countries have been conducting high-level visits, joint military exercises, training and experience sharing.

In particular, the tradition of conferring honorary titles on the chiefs of the two armies reflects the special relationship between the armies of the two countries.

In 1950, the Chief of Army Staff of Nepal was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army and the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army to the Chief of Army Staff of India. It is taken as an important symbol of friendly relations and mutual respect between Nepal and India.