PM Meets BIMSTEC Members, Discusses Fostering Regional Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the foreign ministers from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries in New Delhi on Friday. PM Modi discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges.

After meeting with the foreign ministers from seven member states of BIMSTEC, the PM took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful summit.” Thailand is set to host the sixth BIMSTEC summit later this year.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar welcomed his counterparts on Thursday. While addressing the group, the EAM said, “For India, BIMSTEC represents the intersection of its neighbourhood first outlook, the ‘Act East Policy’ and the ‘SAGAR’ (security and growth for all in the region) vision. Each of these endeavours is being purposed with a specific focus on the Bay of Bengal, where collaborative potential has long remained under realised.”

The foreign ministers from BIMSTEC member nations are on their two-day annual retreat meeting in New Delhi to further cooperation among Bay of Bengal countries. BIMSTEC comprises seven member states namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

Recently, Modi paid a visit to Russia where the two countries discussed ways to further the pace of bilateral cooperation in sectors such as energy, trade and manufacturing. After visiting Russia, the PM went on to visit Austria where he discussed potential collaborations between India and Austria in green growth and innovation, leveraging India’s growth trajectory and startup ecosystem. 

He emphasised India's contribution of 'Buddha' (peace) over 'Yuddha' (war), highlighting its role in promoting global peace and prosperity.