17th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting focuses on preparation of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit

KATHMANDU, April 2: The 17th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting was held virtually on Thursday.

Nepali delegation team participating in the meeting was led by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

Addressing the meeting, Foreign Minister Gyawali stated that fighting against poverty and hunger and ensuring decent jobs and sustainable sources of livelihood for our people stand as daunting as ever. He said that only a dynamic and resilient BIMSTEC can catalyze growth, spur innovation and propel development and prosperity taking into account of the special needs of LDCs and LLDCs and stressed the need to focus on such core areas as connectivity, energy, trade, investment, tourism, and agriculture, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Stating that stronger political will and commitment of Member States is essential for advancing the regional body, the Foreign Minister underscored the necessity to chart a course that delivers tangible results on the ground and bring positive changes in peoples’ lives. Gyawali also underlined the need to make the 5thBIMSTEC Summit successful in furthering and deepening the regional cooperation for a larger benefit of the region.

Similarly the meeting also recommended for signing of BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters; Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka;and,Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States during the 5thBIMSTEC Summit, reads the press statement.

The Meeting made extensive discussion on preparation for the 5th BIMSTEC Summit and finalized draft text of the BIMSTEC Summit Declaration.The Meeting was hosted by Sri Lanka as the current Chair of the BIMSTEC.

Nepali delegation led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs included Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and senior officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation;Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.