BSS-50 India to continue its support to BIMSTEC

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ZCZC

BSS-50

JAISHANKAR-SHAHIDUL-MEETING

India to continue its support to BIMSTEC

DHAKA, July 24, 2019 (BSS) – Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar reiterated his country’s strong commitment to the BIMSTEC process.

He said India sees virtue in the BIMSTEC and advocated for investment of more energy into this regional initiative by the member states.

He made the remarks while BIMSTEC Secretary General Shahidul Islam called on him in New Delhi on Tuesday, said a press release today.

BIMSTEC, an intergovernmental platform that brings together seven countries from South and Southeast Asia, is increasingly becoming visible as a means of strengthening economic and physical connectivity among the countries of the Bay of Bengal region. Currently, BIMSTEC has seven members – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Referring to the ongoing institutional reform of BIMSTEC, Dr Jaishnkar expressed hope that with streamlining of activities, BIMSTEC will be able to deliver more results in near future.

He said that with India’s focus on neighbourhood and especially towards East, BIMSTEC will remain a key priority for India.

He emphasised the historical and cultural linkages that BIMSTEC member states share and said that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a strong advocate of collective prosperity of all countries of the Bay of Bengal region.

The BIMSTEC Secretary General briefed the minister on the initiatives taken by the BIMSTEC Secretariat towards fulfillment of the directives of the BIMSTEC leaders given in the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal in August 2018.

Shahidul Islam emphasised the need to hold sectoral meetings more regularly and complete the ongoing review and rationalisation of sectors of cooperation to bring focus in BIMSTEC’s work.

The Secretary General invited the Indian External Affairs Minister to visit BIMSTEC Secretariat during his future visit to Bangladesh.

BSS/PR/MAK/KU/2021 HRS