Gyawali for result-oriented SAARC

Kathmandu, Sept. 24

 Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has stressed the need for making SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) an effective and result-oriented regional organisation capable of bringing about visible changes in the lives of people of the region.

He made the remarks at the informal meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers held virtually on Thursday, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Gyawali chaired the meeting participated in by the ministers for foreign/external affairs of the SAARC member countries. 

He urged the countries in the region to explore all viable options to hold the 19^th SAARC Summit at an early date and to generate the new momentum and dynamism in South Asia.

The Foreign Minister highlighted the need for deeper engagement of the member states to collectively fight COVID-19 and develop regional resilience to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi delivered Nepal’s national statement in the Council Meeting.

The meeting was hosted by Nepal as the current chair of SAARC.

The Nepali delegation led by FM Gyawali included Bairagi and senior officials of the MoFA.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 25 September 2020.