Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba emphasized the need for advancing with the spirit of regional unity and cooperation under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Addressing the 20th Ministerial Meeting at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Dr. Deuba stated that BIMSTEC represents the shared aspirations of the people in the Bay of Bengal region, and it is vital to focus on unity and cooperation.
She highlighted that BIMSTEC is a vibrant representative of South Asia and Southeast Asia, encompassing the region’s rich civilization, culture, history, and environmental diversity and that it should work to further promote economic prosperity.
Dr. Deuba affirmed Nepal’s commitment to regionalism and multilateralism, aligning with the United Nations’ peaceful, equitable, and inclusive agenda. She noted Nepal’s active role in promoting peace, security, and sustainable development globally and expressed pride in Nepal’s position as a leading contributor of peacekeeping forces to the UN.
Dr. Deuba reiterated Nepal’s dedication to BIMSTEC since becoming a member in 2004, emphasizing regional prosperity, peace, and unity. She also called for urgent measures to address climate change, natural disasters, and environmental degradation in the Bay of Bengal region.
The need for infrastructure development, early warning systems, and local community involvement in environmental conservation was highlighted. Dr. Deuba welcomed India’s proposal to establish a BIMSTEC disaster management center, prioritizing the use of AI in addressing these challenges.
She also expressed confidence that BIMSTEC will continue to play a leading role in promoting regional peace, unity, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Deuba presented suggestions to strengthen BIMSTEC as a robust partnership platform, stressing the importance of regional cooperation and political will.
She advocated for the operation of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, the implementation of the EPZ Report, and the identification of transport connectivity projects. Additionally, she emphasized the need for collaboration in trade facilitation, energy cooperation, tourism development, investment promotion, and technology transfer.
Dr. Deuba also highlighted the importance of collaboration between educational institutions in the region to raise awareness on maternal-child health, mental health, communicable diseases, and climate-related health issues. She stressed the importance of ensuring women’s full participation in governance, development, and conflict management for building a prosperous future.
Lastly, she underscored the importance of fostering collaboration among BIMSTEC member nations and their citizens to promote culture, tourism, poverty alleviation, and climate change solutions in partnership with development and regional and international organizations. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC member states.
