President Dr Ram Baran Yadav conferred visiting Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army amidst a ceremony held at Shital Niwas on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, government ministers, Chief of Army Staff of Nepal Army Chhatra Man Singh Gurung including other high-ranking officials were present on the occasion.

The rank of General of the Nepal Army was conferred to the Indian Army chief as per the tradition of Nepali and Indian armies of awarding that honour to each other's chiefs. CoAS Gurung had received the honorary rank of the General of the Indian Army back in 2009.

General Singh, who is on his maiden foreign visit after taking over as CoAS about two months ago, met Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai at the latter's office in Singha Durbar yesterday. Nepal-India defence cooperation and Indian military assistance to Nepal figured chiefly during the meeting.

He will visit the NA's UN Peacekeeping Training Centre at Paanchkhal, Jomsom-based training centre, headquarters of the NA's Western Division and the Indian Army's pension camp in Pokhara on Thursday.  General Singh will visit Lumbini, the birthplace of lord Buddha on Saturday, before wrapping up his five-day visit of Nepal. nepalnews.com