NEW DELHI: Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers' Retreat.

India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, will host the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat in New Delhi on July 11-12. This event provides an opportunity for foreign ministers from BIMSTEC nations to explore ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as security, connectivity, trade, investment, and people-to-people interactions in the Bay of Bengal region.

In addition to Tharaka Balasuriya, other notable attendees include Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Nepal's Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Bhutan's Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel, and Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister U Than Swe.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a press release that the retreat offers an informal setting for these discussions, aimed at broadening and deepening cooperation across various sectors.

The first BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 17, 2023. BIMSTEC, comprising seven countries from South and Southeast Asia, focuses on fostering economic growth, trade, and cooperation in transportation, energy, and counter-terrorism. The organization aims to strengthen relationships and promote economic development among its member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

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