NEW DELHI: India gave a red-carpet welcome to Nepal ’s first woman President Vidya Bhandari last week, reinforcing its centuries-old ties with the country at a time when the Himalayan state sparked concerns in India by holding joint military drills with China While China is seeking to woo the Nepalese leadership, India is playing on its strength of socio-cultural-political bonds and promoting people-to-people ties to maintain its special relations with the country.Political discussions apart President Bhandari went on a religious tour of India across states from Gujarat to Odisha. The predominantly Hindu Nepal has age-old ties with religious and temporal bodies of India, and its people uphold this tradition in true spirit. According to experts, this is where India’s strength lies and China will not be able to provide an alternative to this aspect of Indo-Nepal relationship.While there is no denying the fact that an economically powerful China has expanded its presence in South Asia compared to two decades ago, through loans and projects, and India may not measure up in terms of quantum of largesse offered to countries, India is focusing on its strengths such as people-to-people ties with its South Asian neighbours including Nepal. President Bhandari’s visit was a testimony to this, said an expert, who did not wish to be identified.What was earlier conceived as an official visit was turned into a state visit to show honour to Nepal. Analysts said that such small gestures matter, referring to another such example, Prime Minister receiving his Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in person at Delhi Airport on April 7.Besides, the fact that Nepalese PM Prachanda twice visited India in the past one year, preceded by then PM KP Oli, is also an indication that high level visits from neighbouring capitals to Delhi are more frequent than ever. This is reminiscent of travels in Europe by heads of state, which have made bonds stronger among European nations that fought bloody wars less than a century ago.There have been more than 30 official and ministerial level engagements since the state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal in November last year, clearly illustrating the wide range and depth of cooperative ties with Nepal.Bhandari’s visit was followed up by a phone call between the PMs in Delhi and Kathmandu, aimed at ensuring certain amendments to the Nepalese constitution allowing Madhesis to take part in local elections and helping maintain smoother bilateral ties than in 2009.What has also happened quietly in Indo-Nepal ties is that Nepal has sought wider defence ties with Delhi including institution building and training in disaster management matters. In Nepal, the army is the nodal body to handle disasters, in the absence of an institute such as the National Disaster Response Force, and it requires advanced training.