BIMSTEC shedding narrow definitions: Manmohan

Nay Pyi Taw, March 4 :

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said the seven-nation BIMSTEC was shedding narrow definitions of geography and listed trade, energy, physical connectivity and people-to-people exchange as priority areas to build upon.

“In coming together, we are not only stepping out of narrow, traditional definitions of regions such as South Asia or Southeast Asia, but we are also building a bridge across Asia’s most promising and dynamic arc,” the prime minister told the BIMSTEC Summit in this Myanmar capital.

“Today, as connectivity and integration across a fragmented Asia are becoming the new vehicles for advancing peace and prosperity in the region, BIMSTEC is one of the more promising examples of such initiatives,” he added.

Manmohan Singh said even as the region faced many common challenges such as from natural disasters and terrorism, it also shared many opportunities in areas as such as trade, economic cooperation and connectivity, all of which signaled a bright future.

Besides India and Myanmar, the BIMSTEC regional grouping comprises Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, accounting for 21 percent of the global population and $2.5 trillion in GDP.

Listing the Indian contribution to the regional grouping, Manmohan Singh said the proposed centre for predicting weather and climate and providing early warnings will be operational at Noida soon.

“Since 2007, India’s National Tsunami Warning Centre is providing early warnings of Indian Ocean Rim countries on a regular basis,” he said, adding that New Delhi was also partner in space sciences, resource management and economic development.

The prime minister said terrorism and cross-border crimes also deserved the attention of BIMSTEC leadership be it for security of sea lanes or communication channels.

“The nature of the evolving threat of terrorism in the BIMSTEC region has imparted greater urgency for stronger cooperation to counter it,” he said.

“As part of this effort, we must seek early ratification of the Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Trans-National Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking,” he said.

The prime minister also sought the early signing of the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters among the seven countries and start negotiations for a convention on extradition.

Manmohan Singh also lauded the decision for a permanent BIMSTEC secretariat in Dhaka as a key milestone in the evolution of the group and thanked Bangladesh to host it.

He also proposed 2015 to be declared as a year of BIMSTEC tourism, terming it a powerful source of economic development and a bridge between peoples and cultures.

THREE PACTS SIGNED

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Tuesday signed three pacts representing India at the third BIMSTEC Summit covering areas such as cultural exchanges, permanent secretariat and early weather warning.

The pacts were signed after the leaders of BIMSTEC at the summit, where India is being led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, outlined their respective vision for the seven-nation grouping.

The leaders decided to approve the setting up of a permanent secretariat, establish a centre on weather and climate and a commission to promote cultural exchanges among their countries.

“Since 2007, India’s National Tsunami Early Warning Centre is providing early warnings to Indian Ocean Rim countries on a regular basis,” the prime minister said.

“The BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate in Noida near New Delhi will become functional immediately after we sign this Memorandum of Association today,” he added.

The prime minister also said BIMSTEC, comprising India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand Sri Lanka, was making steady progress.

“The permanent secretariat that we are establishing in Dhaka will be an important milestone in the evolution of this group and I thank Bangladesh for offering to host it,” he said.

“I hope the setting up of the secretariat will also enable us to focus on areas that are particularly critical to realizing the BIMSTEC vision.”

(IANS)