The heads of the member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) have pledged to cooperate with each other in the fight against the pandemic and overcome its consequences.
They also wished for peace and prosperity of the region in separate messages issued ahead of the 24th BIMSTEC Day to be celebrated on Sunday. Like 2020, there will be no event due to the pandemic.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are the members of this regional alliance which unlike many other groupings is a sector-driven cooperation organisation.
Starting with six sectors—including trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries—for sectoral cooperation on 6 June 1997, BIMSTEC expanded to embrace nine more sectors—including agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people to people contact and climate change—in 2008. It is headquartered in Dhaka.
Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell reiterates the Secretariat’s firm commitment to pursue the “goals and visions” of the Organisation as envisaged by the BIMSTEC leaders.
The leaders also extended their warm felicitations to the governments and the peoples of the member states.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Extending her warm felicitations to the governments and the peoples of the member states, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh joined the BIMSTEC Forum during Awami League-led Government in 1997 in the spirit of realization of the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to achieve collective economic and social progress for the neighboring countries through building a stronger cooperation with them.
“The Father of the Nation's legacy of Regional Cooperation has since been one of the Foreign Policy priorities of Bangladesh.”
“As we have been celebrating the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation and the 50th anniversary of our Independence this year, it is my profound pleasure to reiterate our commitment to the BIMSTEC process for the uplift of the standards of lives of all our Peoples in the Bay of Bengal region,” she said.
She noted the progress of the BIMSTEC process and said: “Now we need to work faster to turn BIMSTEC into a result-oriented organization to achieve our collective goals.”
“Bangladesh as a founding member and the host country of the BIMSTEC Secretariat will do everything possible to strengthen the BIMSTEC process. We thank all members of BIMSTEC for their concerted support and continuous engagements.”
She also expressed his ‘firm conviction’ that the BIMSTEC process will “intensify further with the holding of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit soon”.
“I hope that the 5th BIMSTEC Summit will generate new impetus in stepping forward the progress we already made in various important sectors of cooperation including trade and investment, connectivity, agriculture and energy, public health, and technology sectors.”
She also called upon the member states “to leverage the BIMSTEC platform to combat the multi-prong challenges and devastating impact of COVID-19 during the Post-Covid-19 Era.”
“We may exploit this platform to forge cooperation especially in the fields of food security, disaster management, and poverty alleviation through sharing our knowledge and expertise,” she said.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering
He reaffirmed the “steadfast commitment” of the Bhutanese government to BIMSTEC. “I am looking forward to participating in the upcoming BIMSTEC summit,” he said.
Highlighting the challenges posed by the pandemic, he expressed Bhutan’s “sincere appreciation and gratitude to Member States for the solidarity and exemplary support extended during such difficult times.”
Bhutan’s efforts against the pandemic have been further reinforced by the “solidarity and support extended by our friends in the region”.
“I am optimistic that this spirit of friendship and cooperation will continue during this challenging time and beyond,” read his message.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In a separate message, Modi said, as a “manifestation of our collective will, BIMSTEC has emerged as a promising regional grouping to fulfill the common aspirations of its people and serve the shared interests of the Member States”.
“I am happy to note that regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework has intensified substantially in recent years. Progress has been made on several fronts including the finalization of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and the text of the BIMSTEC Charter. I had the privilege of addressing the young entrepreneurs from the region at the BIMSTEC StartUp Conclave in January,” he said.
“We mark the BIMSTEC Day amidst a difficult phase of the COVID pandemic. It is an unprecedented challenge and a testing time for all of us. We need to continue to work together in the fight against the pandemic and in collectively overcoming its consequences.”
He also commended Sri Lanka, the current Chair of BIMSTEC, for providing “able leadership” to BIMSTEC during this time.
He also appreciated the important role being played by the BIMSTEC Secretariat in the effective coordination of the organization’s activities.
“I am confident that BIMSTEC will continue to grow and scale new heights of cooperation in our common pursuit of building a secure, peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal region.”
Chairman of the State Administration Council of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
The Chairman in a message said throughout its 24-year journey, BIMSTEC has made “significant progress” in fulfilling aims and purposes enshrined in the 1997 Bangkok Declaration.
“BIMSTEC is now about to embark on a new era with the Charter of BIMSTEC which is to be signed at the upcoming Summit. I am strongly confident that the Charter will serve as not only a solid foundation for rule-based cooperation, but also confer BIMSTEC a legal personality.”
He also highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic challenges and said “with our collective efforts, we will be able to defeat these challenges and rebuild our regional economy in the near future”.
“As Myanmar views BIMSTEC as a key platform for peace, prosperity and sustainability in the Bay of Bengal region, we are committed to active cooperation in response to new and emerging challenges, together with other Member States in a spirit of friendship, solidarity, mutual respect and mutual understanding.”
Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli
The Nepalese Prime said since last year, the global community has been grappling with the COVID-I9 pandemic.
“Current trying time demands us to pool our strengths, stand in solidarity with each other and build better resilience across the region. The raging second wave of the COVID transmission has exposed our vulnerability. We are racing against time to ensure the required supply of personal protective equipment, therapeutic drugs and vaccines, arrange respirators, oxygen, ventilators and ICU beds, and provide critical care to the patients,” he said.
“I believe that vaccination is a key part of the solution to such a pandemic. Our region should muster further efforts in ensuring timely and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“Collaboration and cooperation in responding to the global health crisis is also a contribution towards the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. This is crucial, in particular, for the realization of the overarching goal of eradicating poverty and ensuring basic social protection for our peoples,” read his message.
“The best way we can push through such a difficult moment in history is through collective resolve to move ahead. Sharing of experiences in strengthening our health systems and accelerating cooperation in trade and technology, science and innovation, have become vitally important areas of regional and global cooperation,” he said.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
The Sri Lankan President said as the current Chair of BIMSTEC, Sri Lanka convened eight core BIMSTEC Meetings including the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting during which Member States collectively finalised the BIMSTEC Charter, Rationalization of Sectors and Sub Sectors of BIMSTEC, MoU on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States, with a view to adopt at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.
“The Secretariat has commendably supported and facilitated the process under the BIMSTEC framework to achieve this outcome,” he said.
“I wish to take this opportunity to convey that, Sri Lanka is considering hosting the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in the latter part of the year depending on the mitigation of the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic and ease to travel restrictions in Member States.”
He reassured that Sri Lanka would “remain committed to all BIMSTEC initiatives as we did in the past”, and encouraged member states to continue to deepen cooperation to address the region's challenges and to seize the many opportunities for shared progress.
Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.)
The Thai Prime Minister said over the years, BIMSTEC has proven to be a "bridge of friendship," connecting the peoples of South and Southeast Asia.
“Though divided by geography, we are joined together by cultural heritage, mutual goodwill, and the shared ambition of security and prosperity.”
“Together we have accomplished the strengthening of BIMSTEC institutions, including the prioritisation of the seven sectors of cooperation, and the Master Plan on Transport Connectivity. In the future, I firmly believe that BIMSTEC will accomplish realizing these institutions into concrete cooperation, which will further empower us to tackle the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.
“With this faith in the capacity and potential of BIMSTEC, Thailand pledges our utmost support to furthering BIMSTEC cooperation in both physical connectivity and enhancing an enabling environment for our peoples. We have come far in twenty four years, and I am certain that, with the spirit of friendship and solidarity, we will continue to maximize our potential in the decades to come.”
Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell
The BIMSTEC Secretary General, highlighting the challenges posed by the pandemic, said that “today, more than ever, inclusive and coordinated regional efforts are required to address a situation that exceeds the individual capacities of the member states”.
He stressed on concluding a free trade agreement before the 25th anniversary of BIMSTEC.
“On this occasion, to enhance intra-regional trade and strengthen the economy and vibrancy of this region, I trust the Member States will be able to conclude the long cherished BIMSTEC Free Trade Area negotiations at the soonest. I would earnestly request Member States to step forward towards the goal of trade liberalization by concluding FTA before the 25th Anniversary of BIMSTEC next year,” he said in a message.
