Diplomatic Correspondent :
The 5th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit is going to be kicked off in Colombo on March 30 on the virtual platform with the aim of enhancing more connectivity and cooperation.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said this at a press conference of the Foreign Ministry. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, among others, was also present on the occasion.
This year the Summit will be held with the theme ‘BIMSTEC – Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy Peoples’.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually join the Summit with the heads of governments of the member countries to talk on various issues.
Abdul Momen said that four significant documents will be signed during the Summit.
They are BIMSTEC Charter; BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters; Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the Summit will call upon the world leaders to come forward to resolve myriad problems like poverty in BIMSTEC region, climate change, post pandemic joint strategy, combating regional terrorism and inter-state crimes, the minister said.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh will also urge the BIMSTEC leaders to expedite the process of formation of legal framework and other legal documents to activate the BIMSTEC process elaborately for the collective development in the region of Bay of Bengal.
Abdul Momen said also the BIMSTEC leaders will also adopt two other proposals – Rationalisation and Reorganization of Sectors and Sub-Sectors of BIMSTEC; BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity.
A joint Summit Declaration will be given after the Summit and the BIMSTEC Chair will be handed over to Thailand.
About the signing of the BIMSTEC Charter, Momen said, “It is very important as it is going to be signed after 25 years of its foundation. The decision for the Charter was taken in Nepal in 2018. Finally it’s going to be signed at this Summit.”
After signing the Charter, it will play a pivotal role in building a sustainable, peaceful and economically prosperous region in the Bay of Bangal. Momen said Bangladesh always believes in regional cooperation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in September 2014 inaugurated the permanent Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka.
