Colombo SAARC summit to focus on connectivity, food security and energy
Monday, 30 June 2008
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister (FM) Rohitha Bogollagama said in Dhaka Sunday that the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo would focus on greater connectivity, food security and meeting growing demand for energy among the member states, reports UNB.
Talking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at state guest house Padma, he said the theme of the 15th summit scheduled to be held on August 2-3 is 'partnership for the people of SAARC'.
"We'll continue to focus on connectivity and transform it into partnership for the people of SAARC," said Bogollagama who came here Saturday night to formally hand over invitation to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend the summit.
SAARC, the single largest group in the world having one-fourth of the world population, comprise Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan FM said while implementing the SAARC agenda, they had also identified some key areas that include new dimension for food security and energy crisis that loom large on economic activities of the member states.
He said the member states needed to share their resources and find out alternative sources of energy to meet growing demand.
The Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh was looking forward to participating in the 15th summit in Colombo to transform SAARC into a "people's SAARC."
He said SAARC did not belong to the governments only, it belonged to the people and "we are going to make it a people's SAARC."
Talking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at state guest house Padma, he said the theme of the 15th summit scheduled to be held on August 2-3 is 'partnership for the people of SAARC'.
"We'll continue to focus on connectivity and transform it into partnership for the people of SAARC," said Bogollagama who came here Saturday night to formally hand over invitation to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend the summit.
SAARC, the single largest group in the world having one-fourth of the world population, comprise Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan FM said while implementing the SAARC agenda, they had also identified some key areas that include new dimension for food security and energy crisis that loom large on economic activities of the member states.
He said the member states needed to share their resources and find out alternative sources of energy to meet growing demand.
The Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh was looking forward to participating in the 15th summit in Colombo to transform SAARC into a "people's SAARC."
He said SAARC did not belong to the governments only, it belonged to the people and "we are going to make it a people's SAARC."