At the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held in Bangkok, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar said that food, health and energy are common concerns for BIMSTEC member states.
He also met his Bangladeshi and Nepali counterparts on the sidelines of the retreat.
Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to Thailand to participate in the Foreign Ministers’ meetings of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and the BIMSTEC Retreat.
India at the Summit
The Indian EAM participated in the inaugural BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat on Monday.
“Our common objective is to enhance growth and promote prosperity,” he remarked.
Just concluded a productive BIMSTEC Retreat in Bangkok. An open and forward looking discussion among colleagues.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 17, 2023
Focused on strengthening resilience and coordination among BIMSTEC members, reflecting the challenges that we all confront today. Explored new facets and activities… pic.twitter.com/ZWKdZTAT0z
The Indian EAM also emphasised that technology solutions can be subject to collaboration and best practices exchanges between BIMSTEC member nations.
Additionally, India offered to host the next BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the forthcoming UN General Assembly in September 2023.
Meetings with Nepali, Bangladesh Counterparts
On the sidelines of the retreat, Jaishankar met his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Momen and discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with him.
Additionally, the Indian EAM held a meeting with his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud, wherein the two ministers agreed to work closely to implement the cooperation agenda.
Along with other ministers at the summit, Jaishankar called on Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. At the conclusion of the BIMSTEC and MGC meetings, the EAM also visited Ayutthaya briefly.
The Retreat
At the retreat, the seven BIMSTEC members expressed their renewed resolve to build a stronger, more resilient, and more relevant grouping.
Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai, chaired the retreat, which members of the grouping, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, attended.
TH🇹🇭 hosted 1st BIMSTEC Retreat w/shared commitment to stronger, more resilient, relevant #BIMSTEC🌏📈. Mtg agreed to strengthen org framework & crisis response mechanisms🚨& discussed food-public health-energy-financial security, econ coop & #SDGs🤝. (17 Jul 23) pic.twitter.com/cEDx2q5cHV
— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) July 17, 2023
The ministers agreed on the need to strengthen BIMSTEC’s organisational framework and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
A Thailand Foreign Ministry statement about the retreat said, “There was a broad agreement on the importance of creating crisis response mechanisms to coordinate for different contingencies.”
Along with discussions on food, public health, energy, financial security, trade and economic cooperation, the members also considered establishing digital payment systems and trade settlements.
12th MGC Foreign Ministers Meeting
Prior to attending the BIMSTEC retreat, Jaishankar co-chaired the 12th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of MGC Mechanism on Sunday with his Lao counterpart, PDR Saleumxay Kommasith.
The MGC is one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region and is guided by India’s Act East Policy. Founded in 2000, it has six members, including India, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Co-chaired the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok today along with FM of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 16, 2023
➡️ Prioritizing the implementation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
➡️ Expedite the conclusion of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between… pic.twitter.com/07egAiGz9O
At the summit, the leaders established an MGC Business Council and discussed expediting the Motor Vehicles Agreement.
Jaishankar also met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe on the sidelines of MGC, where he discussed peace and stability in border areas. “As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar,” Jaishankar remarked. He further highlighted that India supports the democratic transition in Myanmar.