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BIMSTEC summit concludes; PM Dahal calls for int'l investment in Nepal's hydro-power sector

The 2nd summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Scientific, Technical and Economic Cooperation) concluded in the Indian capital New Delhi on Thursday with the member states recognising a range of areas of mutual cooperation including economic development, climate change and combating international terrorism, transnational crime.

The declaration issued at the end of the summit stated that the state delegates recognised that given the geographical contiguity, abundant natural and human resources as well as rich historical and cultural heritage there is great potential for economic and social development which provides a sound basis for mutually beneficial cooperation. "The leaders have taken note with satisfaction of the finalisation of the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking," the declaration said.

It further said the leaders were convinced that through close cooperation the member countries can maximize the potential of their capabilities and resource endowments for economic and social development of our states and peoples and that the leaders also recognised the adverse impact of climate change on the lives and livelihoods of the populations and the serious threat it poses to the region and also reiterated their commitment to BIMSTEC as a regional cooperation grouping.

Heads of states/governments of Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Bhutan participated in the BIMSTEC summit. Next summit will be held in Thailand.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressed the summit, outlining poverty and lack of food security as the main challenge facing South Asia and called for a "shared commitment " and "concerted effort" to tackle it. He also said that Nepal is ready to host an international conference on poverty reduction to address such regional development challenges.

PM Dahal said Nepal has immense hydro-power potential, and he invited investments from interested countries to tap its benefits. He also said that Nepal's peace process has proved to be an example for the whole world.

Earlier, PM Dahal met Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed issues of bilateral interests. During the meeting, the Sri Lankan president expressed willingness to extend cooperation to the Lumbini Development Programme apart from increasing bilateral trade and establishing direct air-link between the two countries.

On the occasion, PM Dahal also invited Rajapaksa to come on a visit of Nepal, in what is seen as his "Lumbini diplomacy", as Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist country. Rajapaksa accepted the invitation, according to reports.

The state-owned news agency RSS said that the two leaders stressed on the need to promote tourism and enhance people to people contact between the two countries.

Also today, PM Dahal scheduled to hold separate meetings with different head of states and government including Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Particularly with the Bhutanese prime minister Jigme Y Thinley, PM Dahal will discuss the issue of Bhutanese refugees living in eastern Nepal refugee camps from the past one and half decade after they were forcibly evicted from Bhutan by the Druk regime in one of the region's worst act of ethnic cleansing.

PM Dahal also met Indian President Pratibha Patil this evening and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation.

On Friday, he will visit Tehri Dam in northwest India and return home the same evening.

On Wednesday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav addressed the opening session of the Ministerial meeting in which he reiterated Nepal's support to the idea of giving special emphasis on all areas of cooperation among the member states.

He said that given the high growth potential and high importance in the BIMSTEC region, connectivity, trade, hydropower development, tourism should get due priority. nepalnews.com mk/ ag Nov 13 08