PM Narendra Modi Meets BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Foreign Ministers from BIMSTEC member countries in New Delhi to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation. The topics included connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges.
PM Modi conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful BIMSTEC Summit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also attended the meeting.
In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful Summit.”
The Foreign Ministers gathered in New Delhi for a two-day retreat to bolster cooperation among Bay of Bengal countries. BIMSTEC is a regional organization comprising seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
On Thursday, S Jaishankar welcomed colleagues for the second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held in Delhi from July 11-12. He highlighted India’s strategic alignment with BIMSTEC, emphasizing its significance within India’s broader geopolitical frameworks like Neighbourhood First, Act East Policy, and SAGAR vision.
Jaishankar said, “For India, BIMSTEC represents the intersection of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ outlook, the ‘Act East Policy’ and the ‘SAGAR’ vision. Each of these endeavours is being purposed with a specific focus on the Bay of Bengal, where collaborative potential has long remained underrealised.”
He added, “Our challenge is to change that for the better, and to do so rapidly. The retreat is meant to exchange ideas openly, candidly and fruitfully. We all benefited from the last such exercise in Bangkok.”
Stressing the importance of the Summit, he said, “This one now has a particular importance as it serves to prepare strong outcomes for the Summit to be held later in the year. Our message should be clear – that we are all determined to infuse new energies, new resources and a new commitment into cooperation among the Bay of Bengal nations.”
Highlighting recent developments within BIMSTEC, Jaishankar noted, “The BIMSTEC Charter, for a start, has come into effect from 20 May this year. Global and regional developments also make it imperative that we find more solutions amongst ourselves.”
Jaishankar expressed optimism about the outcomes, stating, “Our hope is that these would be expressed as shared and ambitious BIMSTEC Vision.”
Highlighting the topics under consideration, EAM Jaishankar said, “Our discussions, in the first part, will revolve around connectivity, institutional building, cooperation in trade and business, collaboration in health and space, digital public infrastructure, capacity building and societal exchanges, as well as weighing on the merits of new mechanisms.”
The first edition of the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 17, 2023. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the retreat provides an opportunity for the Foreign Ministers to discuss ways to broaden and deepen cooperation across various sectors in the Bay of Bengal region.
