In his message on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of SAARC that falls on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nepal said SAARC made a significant stride to achieving its noble objectives and to foster mutual understanding and cooperation in the region during its 25-year journey. [break]
“By joining hands together, we can address the myriad challenges that we are facing in the region and realize the cherished dream of South Asian identity, harmony and prosperity,” the prime minister said in the message.
Noting that SAARC has already made considerable headway in prioritizing areas of cooperation and collaboration with result-oriented and people-centric approach, the prime minister said that poverty alleviation, intra-regional trade and investment promotion and greater people-to-people contacts are some of the critical areas in which SAARC has laid great emphasis for regional cooperation and collaboration. “The emerging challenges of climate change and environment degradation in the region are critical issues that are gaining prominence in the SAARC forum,” he said.
As SAARC has entered its adulthood stage, the emphasis should be on the implementation of core areas of cooperation directly benefiting the people of the region, he further said.
In a separate message, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala lauded the tangible progresses made by SAARC in many areas of cooperation including the operation of South Asian Free Trade Agreement to promote intra-regional trade, establishment of SAARC Food Bank, South Asian University and SAARC Development Fund.
“As we mark the silver jubilee anniversary of the establishment of SAARC, it is the most appropriate occasion to resolve ourselves to chart a long-ranging vision and roadmap of SAARC to play more dynamic role in the quest of cohesive and prosperous South Asian region,” she said. “…the Government of Nepal reiterates its commitment to work in close cooperation and collaboration with other members of SAARC to build it a more vibrant and robust Association.”
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