PM Deuba emphasizes on solidarity among BIMSTEC members

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stressed on the importance of unity, solidarity and cooperation among the member nations to address the challenges of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multilateral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Giving best wishes on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of BIMSTEC, he stressed on the importance of unity, solidarity and cooperation to promote economic partnership in the region. Prime Minister Deuba wished the people and governments of BIMSTEC member countries well and said that the organization should be enabled to fulfill its regional aspirations of peace, development and prosperity.

He said that BIMSTEC had revived the centuries-old cultural and civilizational ties between South Asia and Southeast Asia and had taken important steps to enhance meaningful cooperation between the member nations. He noted that the Fifth Summit, including the signing of the Charter, the adoption of important legal tools, and the restructuring of areas of cooperation and sub-sectors, reiterated a clear message of cooperation and partnership for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Bay of Bengal. Prime Minister Deuba said that timely implementation of these tools would definitely give a new impetus to the BIMSTEC process.

  In a separate message, Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka said that political will was needed to revive the BIMSTEC process and make this year an important anniversary with new resolutions, concrete actions and concrete results.

He emphasized the need to ensure timely and effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Agreement to achieve the common goal of peace and prosperity, noting that the institutional strengthening initiative started from the 4th Summit held in Kathmandu and has now turned into the 5th Summit in Colombo. Expressing confidence that BIMSTEC would take further steps to strengthen cooperation among the member countries, Foreign Minister Khadka reiterated Nepal's commitment to make a constructive contribution to the regional process.