FM Dr. Khadka stresses on BIMSTEC revitalisation

 Kathmandu, Mar. 29

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka stressed the need of renewed commitment and concerted actions from all member states to revitalize the BIMSTEC process.

Addressing the Eighteenth Ministerial Meeting, convened Tuesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka as the preceding meeting of the fifth BIMSTEC Summit, Dr. Khadka further emphasised the need to work together to uplift people’s lives and livelihoods, create equal opportunities and realize the aspirations of peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal region.

According to a statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal, Colombo, FM Dr. Khadka underscored Nepal’s commitment to constructively contribute to the BIMSTEC process for ensuring that it delivers better for the peoples of the region.

Later the same day, the Foreign Minister called on Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa at the latter’s office in Colombo.

The PM expressed satisfaction on the state of cordial and friendly relations between the two countries and expressed hope that the bilateral cooperation would be further strengthened in the days to come, read the statement.  

FM Dr. Khadka appreciated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the BIMSTEC process. He also expressed Nepal’s willingness to work closely with Sri Lanka to enhance cooperation in the areas of mutual interests.

On the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Ministerial, he held separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Don Pramudwinai, External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A. K. Abdul Momen.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will virtually address the summit on Wednesday.

He will lead the Nepali delegation to the summit. The delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka, Principal Personal Secretary to the Prime Minister Bhan Bahadur Deuba, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and senior officials from Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier on Monday, Ghanshyam Bhandari, Joint Secretary and Head of Regional Organisation Division at the Ministry, along with his delegation participated in the Twenty-Second BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting physically.

The Fifth BIMSTEC Summit and its preceding meetings are being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 28-30 in a hybrid mode. The theme of the Summit this year is ‘BIMSTEC – Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy Peoples’.

FM Khadka will return to Kathmandu on March 31.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 March 2022.