India to Host BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Meeting Next Week

New Delhi is set to host the BIMSTEC foreign ministers' meeting next week, on July 11. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises seven member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The grouping primarily includes nations bordering the Bay of Bengal, working towards regional cooperation across multiple sectors.

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New Delhi's hosting of the BIMSTEC foreign ministers' meeting precedes the summit scheduled for September this year in Thailand, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.

The inaugural BIMSTEC foreign ministers' meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, last year. India’s hosting of this event underscores New Delhi's ongoing commitment to the "Neighbourhood First" policy.

Last month, leaders from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles attended Prime Minister Modi's oath-taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

The BIMSTEC group was formally established in its current form in 2004, although its precursor emerged in 1997 with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand as founding members. As the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has lost momentum, BIMSTEC has garnered significant enthusiasm and support, particularly from New Delhi.

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BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Regional Cooperation

Earlier this year, the BIMSTEC Charter came into force, providing legal backing to the grouping—a development welcomed by member countries. This charter enables the establishment of a legal and institutional framework for regional cooperation, facilitates the admission of new members, and allows for the conclusion of agreements with other countries and groupings.

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Notably, the current Secretary General of BIMSTEC is Indra Mani Pandey, an Indian diplomat. This marks the first instance of an Indian diplomat holding the top position within the grouping, whose permanent secretariat is located in Dhaka. Previously, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, and Bhutanese diplomats have held this prestigious role.

News Source:- wionews.com