Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Nepal’s Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on May 16. This will be Modi’s fifth visit to the Himalayan nation.

“The Prime Minister of India together with the Prime Minister of Nepal will participate in a prayer at the Mayadevi Temple, lay the foundation stone for the construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage at the Monastic Zone in Lumbini, and address the special ceremony to be organised to celebrate Buddha Jayanti at the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Centre and Assembly Hall,” Nepal’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The two countries have a lot of cultural commonalities and we need to celebrate that,” former finance minister and a member of the Nepali Congress told India Narrative earlier.

The two leaders will also hold talks on bilateral issues and connectivity.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka is also expected to call on Modi.

Last month Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba was on a three day visit to India. Besides holding back to back meetings Deuba also visited Varanasi.

Nepal is one of the main pillars of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, an official statement issued by India at the time of Deuba’s visit said. “The visit of Prime Minister of Nepal to India will contribute in further cementing the traditional and age-old ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The expansive and productive talks between the two Prime Ministers provided high-level direction and gave shape to a robust agenda for bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors, particularly those related to energy and connectivity,” the statement read.

Also read: Is Nepal heading for a full blown economic crisis?