Kathmandu : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) are connected through unflagging bond of shared culture.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fourth summit of BIMSTEC beginning here today, Prime Minister Modi added that the Bay of Bengal located in the confluence of Himalayan mountain range and Hinda Ocean would attach special importance for shared development, progress and security of all member states.
This is the fourth Nepal visit of Prime Minister Modi after he took charge of the premiership of India – the southern neighbour.
“India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy is for the sake of the region”, he said, adding, “We all are developing countries and hence peace and prosperity is our common priority. But, in today’s interconnected world, this could not be materialized through lone efforts. So, cooperation and togetherness from all is a must”.
The Indian PM laid emphasis on putting joint efforts towards enhancing trade, economy, transport, digital and people-level networking.
Modi also underlined the need of setting up a network of women lawmakers representing BIMSTEC member states.
He expressed India’s readiness to host a BIMSTEC level conference to enhance networking and connectivity among the business community of the sub-regional bloc.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister shared that India would organize an international conference on agriculture research and educational enhancement to boost cooperation in the areas, when most of the member states being agriculture-based countries are facing the menace of the negative effects of climate change.
Expressing commitment that India was ready to expand its national knowledge network in digital connectivity to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, he also wished to widen the network to Myanmar and Thailand.
“I am hopeful that you would participate in the ‘India Mobile Congress’ to be held at New Delhi in October later this year”, he noted. RSS
