BIMSTEC Summit preparation almost complete

KATHMANDU, Aug 24 – The government is all set to hold the fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Kathmandu on August 30-31.

All preparations for the summit have reached the final phase, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali."It has been confirmed that the Chief Justice would lead the team from Bhutan to the summit while Prime Ministers from India, Bangladesh and Thailand have would partake in the summit while a team led by the President of Sri Lanka would mark their presence in the summit," Minister Gyawali told a press conference in Kathmandu today.

BIMSTEC is the regional group of seven countries which lies near the Bay of Bengal. The member countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

He informed that Chief Justice of Bhutan was coming to Nepal representing Bhutan due to the election in Bhutan. Likewise, Presidents from Sri Lankan and Myanmar would be making a bilateral visit to Nepal during the summit.Minister Gyawali said that President of Myanmar is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on 26, Sri Lankan President on August 27. Both VVIP guests would be making a visit to the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini.

Likewise, the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Thailand and India would arrive on August 30.Minister Gyawali also informed that this year's Summit will concentrate on issues such as energy, trade, the Buddhist circuit, tourism promotion and reduction of impact of climate change.

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to hold meeting with the leaders from the BIMSTEC member countries representing their countries in the summit on August 30. She will also organize a lunch reception on the same day. Likewise, Prime Minister KP Oli would organize a dinner reception for the VIP guests and their visiting team the same night.

The scope of 14 areas of cooperation identified by BIMSTEC such as trade, investment, transportation and communications, energy, tourism, agriculture, anti-terrorism, poverty eradication, public health, environment and natural disasters among others would be narrowed down and these areas of cooperation would be focused on the eradication of poverty in the people of these countries.BIMSTEC was established in 1997 through Bangkok Declaration.