18th Saarc Summit begins

A high government official of Bangladesh has said that the Prime Minister’s active participation in the 18th Saarc Summit will help strengthen cooperation among the member states in the areas of connectivity, trade, energy and security. The 2-day Summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) began today (Wednesday) in Nepalese capital Kathmandu. Current chairperson of the 8-member group, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, announced it open at the City Hall (Rashtriya Sabha Griha) in Bhrikuti Mandap around 9:45am (Nepal standard time). Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala lit the lamp on behalf of the member states while the band played 'Mangal Dhoon'. All SAARC leaders, foreign ministers as well as secretaries joined the opening ceremony. The top leaders of the Saarc countries are expected to deliberate on enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, energy security and poverty alleviation. The Summit will focus on a range of crucial issues such as security cooperation, improving connectivity among the member states and ensuring greater flow of goods and services to fuel economic growth through liberalised trade and combat challenges of terrorism and climate change effectively. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who reached Kathmandu on Tuesday, is leading a 37-member Bangladesh delegation. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh wants to see Saarc as a more vibrant platform so that it can play an effective role in ensuring people’s benefits. He said Dhaka would give importance to youth development and quality education for them because the future of the South Asia depends on the huge young population in the Saarc countries. ‘At the Summit, Bangladesh will focus on 10 core issues – youth development, poverty alleviation, improvement of connectivity, climate change, science and technology, education, women empowerment, food security and combating terrorism – for strengthening cooperation.’ He said Bangladesh will also lay emphasis on timely and proper implementation of the decisions taken so far within the Saarc, according to a news agency.