BANGKOK: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana highlighted the importance of regional unity and collective cooperation in advancing the goals of BIMSTEC.
Addressing the 20th ministerial meeting held in Bangkok today, Minister Rana said BIMSTEC must move forward with a shared spirit of cooperation, reflecting the common aspirations of the people of the Bay of Bengal region.
She described BIMSTEC as a bright rainbow representing the dynamic regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia, with each color symbolizing the rich civilization, culture, history, and ecological diversity of the region.
She urged the member countries to focus on enhancing the economic prosperity of the region’s people.
“As a responsible member of the international community, Nepal has prioritized regionalism and multilateralism, promoting peace, equity, and inclusivity,” she said.
She further clarified Nepal’s active engagement in all regional and global forums, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable development and peacekeeping. Nepal remains proud of being the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops to the United Nations.
Since becoming a member of BIMSTEC in 2004, Nepal has consistently supported the organization’s principles and objectives, with a focus on fostering regional prosperity, peace, and unity.
Minister Rana noted the vulnerabilities of the Bay of Bengal region, citing climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and pollution as pressing issues. She stressed the urgency of improving infrastructure, implementing early warning systems for disaster prevention, and involving local communities in environmental protection efforts.
The Minister also welcomed India’s proposal to establish a BIMSTEC Centre for Disaster Management, expressing confidence that the centre would leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to address regional challenges in disaster control and resilience.
She reiterated Nepal’s commitment to ensuring BIMSTEC remains a key player in promoting regional peace, unity, and environmental sustainability. She also suggested several measures to strengthen BIMSTEC, including operationalizing the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, implementing the EPG report, and advancing transport connectivity projects.
She called for greater political will and a cooperative spirit to transform BIMSTEC into a more effective and resilient regional organization.
The meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of all BIMSTEC member countries, who discussed these and other initiatives to drive the region forward.
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