Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has addressed the need to give a new lease of life to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multilateral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). He also said that the resources of member countries should be mobilized.

Addressing a conference in Sri Lanka virtually , he said BIMSTEC should address the long-term economic, social and development impact of the Corona epidemic and ensure that it returns to normal. He spoke about the challenges facing the region, and said that BIMSTEC members should collectively consider trade and investment, energy, connectivity, climate change and people-to-people contacts.

He said that Buddhism would be a strong link in the region, adding that a Buddhist circuit should be set up as soon as possible to connect Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khadka attend the conference in Colombo and met the President Rajapaksa.

During a meeting at the President’s Office, President Rajapaksa recalled the long-standing cordial relations between the two countries and said that economic ties should be further strengthened for the mutual benefit.