At the official invitation of Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe participated in the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat which was held on 11 July 2024 in New Delhi, India.
The Heads of Delegation of the BIMSTEC Member States, Dr Mohammad Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Mr D N Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, Ms Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Mr Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary-General of BIMSTEC were present at the Retreat.
During the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, the Foreign Ministers cordially discussed and exchanged views on matters related to BIMSTEC Cooperation mechanisms as well as regional and global issues.
Their discussions focused on strengthening connectivity among the BIMSTEC Member States, cooperation in trade and business, health, capacity building and collaboration in digital public infrastructure (DPI) including cross-border digital payment systems.
The Foreign Ministers also highlighted the importance of Food and Energy Security at the Retreat. Furthermore, they deliberated on the works of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) on the Future Directions of BIMSTEC and the holding of the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meetings.
During the Retreat, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs also updated the Myanmar Government’s efforts to ensure peace, development and democracy in the country and the latest developments taking place in Myanmar to the Heads of Delegation of BIMSTEC Member States. In his discussion, he encouraged other Member States to further enhance cooperation in combatting illegal drug trafficking and arms trade, human trafficking and online scamming.
On the evening of 11 July 2024, Minister of External Affairs of India Dr S Jaishankar hosted a dinner in honour of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and delegations of BIMSTEC Member States to the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization established in 1997 and it comprises seven Member States namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The main aim of BIMSTEC is to promote economic cooperation among Member States of the Bay of Bengal region. Out of the current seven Sectors of BIMSTEC Cooperation, Myanmar is serving as the Lead Country in the “Agriculture and Food Security Sector”. — MNA
