The heads of the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries will meet on August 30 in Kathmandu for the fourth BIMSTEC summit, according to reports by www.eastasiaforum.org, www.tribuneindia.com and thehimalayantimes.com.
The last BIMSTEC summit was held in 2014 and a mini-summit was held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa in October 2016.
Barring the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, this will be the first BIMSTEC summit for the current heads of the rest of the BIMSTEC member states: Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
A push for free trade agreement and regional connectivity is expected to dominate discussions in the regional grouping comprising seven members-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
On August 30, the leaders will collectively call on the Chair and President of Nepal, attend the inaugural plenary session and gala dinner and cultural programme.
The next day the leaders will head to a retreat to decide future roadmap of this 21-year-old organisation, attend the closing session and release a joint declaration.
Nepali Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said preparations for the fourth summit had reached final stages.
Gyawali said Nepal had taken the summit - the biggest of its kind being held in the country after the country entered an era of political stability following the implementation of the new constitution - as an important event.
"The summit is also important because questions are being raised at the concept of regionalism and multilateralism, with some of the biggest countries pulling out of some
such mechanisms," he told journalists at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"I hope the Kathmandu summit will be remembered as a landmark event in BIMSTEC history."
In the Kathmandu summit - being held under the theme of 'Towards Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable bay of Bengal Region' - heads of states/governments of all seven member states will be present, besides foreign ministers and ministers of state.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha will arrive in the morning of August 30.
On August 30, President Bhandari will hold a luncheon in honour of visiting heads of states/governments at Sital Niwas.
Following the luncheon, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, as the current chair of BIMSTEC, will inaugurate the summit at Hotel Soaltee, where the heads of the states/governments will deliver their respective country statements.
BIMSTEC heads of state meet on August 30
Push for FTA, regional connectivity to dominate summit
FE Team | Published: August 25, 2018 22:54:44
Share if you like