According to a press statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), all SAARC Focal points in the line ministries were present on the occasion. Focal points from the Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Trade and Commerce; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Co-operatives and Poverty Alleviation; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports; Ministry of Forest and Soil Conversation; Ministry of Physical Infrastructure; Ministry of Industry; Ministry of Urban Development, Science and Technology and Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation; and the National Planning Commission attended the interaction.In his inaugural address, Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi highlighted the need for regular follow-up and implementation of decisions made by the Summit from all quarters of the government mechanism. "As we have made international commitments, it would be our bounden duty to help implement decisions, fulfill the obligations and promote regional cooperation," he said.
Foreign Secretary Bairagi also called for sustained efforts on Nepal's part in her capacity as the current chair of SAARC to negotiate and navigate in the realm of regional organization. An Action Matrix, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in line with the 18th SAARC Summit Declaration, was presented during the programme. Each ministry presented their position on respective actions related to their ministries.
Speaking on the occasion, head of the Regional Organization Division at the MoFA Ramesh Prasad Khanal expressed hope that such follow-up interactions would help bring stakeholders together to find ways and means to fulfill Nepal's commitments to the regional organization that ultimately serve the purpose of the SAARC for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
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