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Enhancing cooperation tops SAARC meeting

Xinhua, March 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 37th session of the Council of Ministers of the South Asian Association for the Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held here Thursday with enhancing cooperation among the members high on the agenda.

Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli inaugurated the one-day event in the beautiful lake city in the Western part of Nepal in the presence of foreign ministers from eight SAARC member states, namely Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Addressing the event, the prime minister stressed on enhancing cooperation among the SAARC member states on a various areas including connectivity, technology and telecommunication.

"Connectivity remains a key enabler for robust regional cooperation. Connectivity of infrastructures as well as of ideas, connectivity in terms of information and telecommunication technology as well as of knowledge, connectivity in terms of energy as well as of literature and culture, connectivity of markets as well as of minds can indeed unleash the potential of South Asian cooperation. It can promote meaningful cooperation in trade and investment, in tourism, in finance, and in energy with multiplier effects," Prime Minister Oli said.

Prime Minister Oli also said that the dream of prosperous South Asia cannot survive without the lifeline of connectivity.

"The edifice of dynamic South Asia cannot thrive without the foundation of connectivity. The architecture of South Asian cooperation cannot stand upright without the pedestal of connectivity," he added.

Also Speaking on the inaugural session, Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, who is also the in-charge of foreign affairs, stressed on the implementation of the past agreements reached among the SAARC member states in the past.

The 37th meeting will review the status of the agreements reached among SAARC members states during the 18th SAARC Summit which was held in the Nepalese Capital Kathmandu in November 2014.

According to Nepali Foreign Minister Thapa, the meeting will make

substantive decisions on holding the 19th SAARC Summit, which is

expected to be held in November 2016 in Pakistan. Endite