New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Foreign Ministers from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries to discuss enhancing regional cooperation across various sectors. The meeting, held in New Delhi, focused on key areas including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
PM Modi expressed strong support for Thailand in organizing a successful BIMSTEC Summit. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
In a statement on social media platform X, PM Modi remarked, "Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful Summit."
The BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' retreat in New Delhi brought together representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The retreat, spanning two days from July 11-12, aimed to bolster cooperation among the Bay of Bengal nations.
Speaking at the retreat, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar welcomed international colleagues and underscored India's strategic alignment with BIMSTEC. He highlighted the initiative's significance within India's geopolitical frameworks such as 'Neighbourhood First,' 'Act East Policy,' and the 'SAGAR' vision.
Jaishankar emphasized, "For India, BIMSTEC represents the convergence of our 'Neighbourhood First' outlook, 'Act East Policy,' and the 'SAGAR' vision, with a specific focus on harnessing collaborative potential in the Bay of Bengal region."
Addressing the retreat, Jaishankar outlined the objectives, stating, "Our aim is to inject new energies, resources, and commitment into cooperation among the Bay of Bengal nations, preparing substantive outcomes for the upcoming Summit later this year."
He further highlighted recent developments within BIMSTEC, noting the activation of the BIMSTEC Charter from May 20 this year. Jaishankar expressed optimism about achieving shared and ambitious goals through the collaborative efforts of member countries.
The discussions at the retreat covered a wide range of topics including connectivity, institutional building, trade and business cooperation, health and space collaboration, digital infrastructure, capacity building, societal exchanges, and the exploration of new mechanisms.
The inaugural edition of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 17, 2023. The event provided a platform for informal discussions among Foreign Ministers to expand and deepen cooperation across sectors such as security, connectivity, trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts in the Bay of Bengal region.
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