BIMSTEC should uphold spirit of regional unity and collective cooperation: Minister Dr Rana

KATHMANDU, APRIL 3: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stressed the need for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to uphold the spirit of regional unity and collective cooperation.

Addressing the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held today as part of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, she called for unity and cooperation to strengthen BIMSTEC as a platform representing the shared aspirations of the citizens of the Bay of Bengal region.

"BIMSTEC symbolizes a dazzling rainbow representing two dynamic regions—South Asia and Southeast Asia—each of its seven colors illuminating rich civilizations, cultures, histories, and ecological diversity. It should strive to unlock the economic potential of this region’s citizens,” the Minister said.

Dr. Rana reiterated Nepal's commitment to regionalism and multilateralism in a peaceful, equitable, and inclusive manner under the leadership of the United Nations.

"We are actively engaged in all regional and global forums to strengthen peace, security, and sustainable development. We are also proud to be the largest peacekeeping troop contributor to the United Nations."

She reaffirmed Nepal's commitment to the BIMSTEC charter, principles, and objectives since joining in 2004. Highlighting challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and pollution, she urged immediate efforts for infrastructure enhancement, disaster early warning systems, and community involvement in environmental protection.

She welcomed India’s proposal to establish a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence in Disaster Management, expressing confidence that it would complement regional efforts to control and combat natural disasters while leveraging AI-driven solutions to address these challenges.

Dr. Rana further highlighted BIMSTEC’s leading role in promoting regional peace, unity, and environmental sustainability in the Bay of Bengal region and beyond. Calling for BIMSTEC’s transformation into a strong partnership platform and regional organization, she emphasized the need for cooperation, regional unity, and political will to align BIMSTEC with current global trends.

Similarly, she suggested key initiatives such as expediting the establishment of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, implementing the EPG Report and projects outlined in the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, advancing BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection, and fully operationalizing regional centers and entities.

Additionally, she called for leveraging synergies among member states through collaborative strategies in areas such as resource utilization, workforce mobilization, policy alignment, trade and transit facilitation, energy cooperation, investment promotion, technology transfer, regional infrastructure development, and integrated Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for e-governance services.

Dr. Rana also emphasized cooperation between educational institutions in the region and the need for public awareness and treatment of maternal and child health, mental health issues, and capacity building to combat diseases linked to climate change.

Prioritizing gender equality and women's empowerment, she urged BIMSTEC member states to share successful strategies for mainstreaming women in governance, development, and conflict management to address historical injustices and fulfill promises of a better world.

Dr. Rana called for collaboration among development partners, regional and international organizations to promote culture and tourism, alleviate poverty, and seek sustainable solutions to climate-related challenges through people-to-people ties.

The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of BIMSTEC member states.