India Favors Developing Relations In The Framework Of BIMSTEC

India favors developing relations in the framework of BIMSTEC: External Affairs Minister S.K. Jaishankar.

India is determined to keep BIMSTEC an organization for regional cooperation, dynamic and strong. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said this. He was speaking at the online conference of BIMSTEC organized for regional cooperation.

Jaishankar reminded, that the major objective of the formation of BIMSTEC is mutual cooperation for the elimination of terrorism, organized crime, and prevention of drug trafficking.

This new series of cooperation has started in March. The BIMSTEC Master Plan has also been prepared with a view to increasing traffic connectivity.

India favors developing relations: This master plan is to be accepted at the fifth summit of BIMSTEC countries.

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation) includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan in addition to India.

India has been promoting BIMSTEC over the last few years as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) activity slows down.

SAARC also includes Pakistan. Most of the member countries including SAARC are currently opting out of SAARC due to Pakistan’s support of terrorist organizations.

Jaishankar said, he is happy to know that Sri Lanka will soon hold the fifth summit of BIMSTEC. It is expected that there will be many important and productive decisions at this conference.

Emphasizing the need to increase connectivity among themselves, Jaishankar said, the fifth conference may also have a coastal shipping agreement and a motor vehicle agreement.

Both of these will make it easier to travel to member countries. The Indian Foreign Minister said that apart from issues of development and prosperity, there are challenges related to peace and security in the BIMSTEC countries.

At present, the entire region is facing traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Our National Security Advisers are working together to mitigate these challenges.