Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the next BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand later this year.
The sixth BIMSTEC Summit will be held in November 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, in which Bangladesh will assume the chairmanship of the regional grouping.
Before the BIMSTEC Summit, foreign ministers’ retreat will be held in Bangkok on July 17 to exchange views on regional issues as well as ways to move the 25-year old organisation forward.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen confirmed it after his meeting with Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India Saurabh Kumar.
The foreign secretary said Bangladesh will be the next chair of the BIMSTEC while the next secretary general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will be from India.
India has an interest in knowing the priorities of the next chair, Masud said.
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Foreign Secretary Masud held discussions on BIMSTEC issues with Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar at the state guest house Padma.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma was also present during the meeting.
Foreign Secretary Masud noted that as a founding member of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh is committed to deepening relations with the member states of BIMSTEC in all aspects and moving forward in materializing the objectives of this regional organization.
He also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an ardent proponent of the BIMSTEC process, which is manifested in hosting the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka.
Masud reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening the BIMSTEC Secretariat by all possible means.
Secretary (East) of MEA thanked the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh for receiving him and generous hospitality extended to the Indian delegation by the government of Bangladesh.
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He expressed India’s willingness to work together with Bangladesh to make BIMSTEC a most effective and dynamic organization.
Both sides agreed to intensify their efforts in achieving tangible progress in the field of trade and investment, connectivity, energy security, and climate change for ensuring shared peace and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region.
Both sides also discussed the ways and means of moving forward the BIMSTEC Process and making it a vibrant and successful organization.
After the meeting, the Foreign Secretary hosted a luncheon in honour of the Indian MEA’s Secretary (East). He will leave Dhaka Friday morning.
Kumar arrived in Dhaka on Thursday to discuss BIMSTEC issues with FS Momen.
Secretary Director General (South Asia) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs A.T.M. Rokebul Haque received Kumar upon his arrival in Dhaka.
Read more: Dhaka seeks Member States' greater commitments to implement BIMSTEC FTA soon
