look news india
New Delhi, July 11 (HS). Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
In India, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the potential of cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region has not been fully explored. We have to change this situation rapidly. Our message should be clear that we are committed to bringing new energy, new resources and new commitment to cooperation among all Bay of Bengal countries.
In his inaugural address at the second BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said that BIMSTEC is linked to India's 'Neighborhood First' approach, 'Act East Policy' and 'SAGAR' approach. Bengal's contribution in the efforts related to these is immense.
Special attention is being paid to the Gulf. The aim of the retreat is to exchange views in an open, frank and meaningful manner. The last meeting in Bangkok also had the same benefit.
Welcoming everyone to the BIMSTEC Ministerial Retreat, he said that its charter has come into force from May 20 this year. Amidst global and regional developments, it has become necessary that we find more solutions among ourselves. Long-term goals like capacity building and economic cooperation should be achieved soon. He hoped that these will be expressed in the form of a shared and ambitious BIMSTEC vision. He informed that the retreat will consider connectivity, institutional building, cooperation in trade and business, cooperation in health and space, digital public infrastructure, capacity building and social exchange as well as the merits of new mechanisms.
