External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held fruitful discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Nepal and Bangladesh during his visit to Thailand. The meetings aimed to foster closer cooperation and address regional challenges in line with the shared agendas set forth by the leadership of the respective countries.
Dr. Jaishankar, who participated in the BIMSTEC retreat in the capital of Thailand, engaged with his counterparts from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states. This regional grouping comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan, representing a population of 1.73 billion and a combined GDP exceeding USD 4 trillion.
Taking to Twitter, Mr. Jaishankar shared his positive meeting with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud, expressing their commitment to implementing the cooperative agenda. He also met with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Abdul Momen, discussing ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, along with exchanging views on regional matters.
Earlier, the Indian External Affairs Minister had the opportunity to call on Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. During the meeting, he conveyed the greetings and good wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while emphasizing the commitment to strengthen BIMSTEC. The engagement with the leaders of the BIMSTEC region focused on bolstering resilience, coordination, and promoting growth and prosperity.
Established in 1997, BIMSTEC serves as an economic and technical initiative, uniting countries around the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. As Bangladesh prepares to assume the chairmanship of the seven-nation grouping in December, India is scheduled to be its secretary-general after the BIMSTEC summit to be held in Thailand on November 30.
The discussions between S Jaishankar and his counterparts reflect a concerted effort to enhance regional collaboration, address common challenges, and pave the way for greater prosperity and development within the BIMSTEC framework.
Sources By Agencies
