The 18th Saarc summit has begun in Kathmandu of Nepal with South Asian leaders aiming to discuss many important topics including Defence, transport and business among the eight South Asian neighbours. Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the current chairperson of the group, announced the opening of the two-day summit at the City Hall (Rashtriya Sabha Griha), Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu at 9:10am (local time).
The head of the government of the member countries, foreign ministers as well as secretaries joined the summit, reported several international news media. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to address the inaugural session along with other heads of state or government of the Saarc nations. The theme of this year’s Saarc Summit is “Deeper integration for peace and prosperity.” On the sidelines of the event, Hasina is expected to hold meetings with Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The 17th Saarc Summit was held in the Maldives on November 10-11, 2011 when four agreements were signed.
Along with other heads of state or government, the Bangladesh premier will attend a banquet and cultural function hosted by the Nepalese prime minister at Crown Plaza Kathmandu - Soaltee the same day.
On November 27, Sheikh Hasina and other Saarc leaders will fly by helicopters to Dhulikhel, one of the top tourist places of Nepal, to join the Summit Retreat Session.
Sheikh Hasina along with other Saarc leaders will call on Nepalese President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at Rastrapati Bhawan (President House).
They will also join a banquet hosted by the Nepalese president.
The prime minister is scheduled to return home at 12.05 pm on November 28.
Dhaka will focus on 10 core issues for regional cooperation -- youth development, poverty alleviation, connectivity, climate change, science and technology, education, women empowerment, food security and combating terrorism.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said this at a press conference on Thursday.
Ali said the meeting of eight South Asian nations is expected to ink Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc member states, Saarc Regional Railways Agreement, and Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity).
The Saarc is an economic and geopolitical organization of eight countries that are primarily located in South Asia.
The idea of regional political and economical cooperation in South Asia was first raised in 1980 and the first summit was held in Dhaka on December 8 in 1985, when the organisation was established by the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Since then the organisation has been expanded by accepting one new full member, Afghanistan, and several observer members.