Saturday, April 23 2005 11:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jakarta: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Nepal King Gyanendra in Jakarta today (Apr 23, 2005), marking the restoration of contact at the highest level between India and the Himalayan Kingdom since the monarch seized power on February 1.

The two met on the sidelines of the Asia-Africa summit being held in Jakarta.

The Prime Minister is understood to have conveyed India's concerns over the suspension of multiparty democracy and pressed for restoring it.

Singh had said yesterday (Apr 22, 2005) said he would convey to Gyanendra, "Whatever happens in Nepal has the direct interest to us."

"Geography binds us together. We can choose our friends, not neighbours," he said, adding he would see through the meeting how India's "concerns are taken on board".

"We wish Nepal well," Singh said, noting that the relations between the two countries had such depth that people of the Himalayan Kingdome were not treated as foreigners in India.

Prime Minister Singh also held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai today on a host of bilateral and regional issues.

Singh and Karzai are understood to have reviewed the status of bilateral cooperation during the meeting.