Bangkok: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has affirmed that the three pillars of the BIMSTEC Summit—Prosperity, Resilience, and Openness—not only align with the Sustainable Development Goals but also resonate deeply with Nepal’s national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.

Addressing the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand today, Prime Minister Oli emphasized that BIMSTEC must not only navigate evolving global challenges but also seize opportunities to rejuvenate regional cooperation. He highlighted that the theme of the Summit—“Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC”—serves as a guiding framework focused on people-centric growth, welfare, and shared prosperity.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of building an integrated Bay of Bengal region to unlock potential and capitalize on complementarities across member states. Acknowledging disparities within the region, he called for preferential support to economies with special needs, ensuring inclusive growth and common prosperity.

On the subject of climate change, Prime Minister Oli reiterated Nepal’s heightened vulnerability due to its high Himalayan regions, which act as perennial water towers and cooling stations for Asia. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Nepal faces disproportionate impacts from climate change. He emphasized the necessity for decisive regional action to safeguard lives and secure a sustainable future.

Prime Minister Oli also underscored the need for regional energy cooperation, particularly through cross-border energy grids and renewable energy projects, including hydropower. He urged member states to strengthen resilience against rising trade tensions, supply chain disruptions, and technological shifts through regional cooperation and domestic readiness.

Highlighting the importance of regional connectivity, he called for accelerated implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation. He noted that intra-regional trade within BIMSTEC remains a mere 5%, significantly lower than that of ASEAN, EU, or NAFTA, and called for efforts to enhance integration.

Prime Minister Oli addressed the broader global context, acknowledging the complex challenges facing the world today, including economic disparities, political uncertainties, environmental threats, and technological disruptions. In such a rapidly changing landscape, he stressed that resilience is the most powerful defense against adversity.

He also underscored the importance of openness and inclusivity, advocating for strengthened people-to-people connectivity through tourism, cultural exchanges, educational linkages, and cross-border investments. The Prime Minister suggested that implementing a visa-on-arrival policy within BIMSTEC would significantly enhance regional cooperation.

Moreover, Prime Minister Oli encouraged digital integration to facilitate e-commerce, cross-border payments, and e-governance, while also emphasizing the need to prioritize research and development to address shared challenges ranging from climate change to food security.

Discussing the adoption of the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, he highlighted it as a blueprint for a shared future and reaffirmed Nepal’s deep commitment to the BIMSTEC Charter. Prime Minister Oli expressed Nepal’s pride in leading the People-to-People Contact Sector and reiterated Nepal’s commitment to deepening partnerships across various priority areas.

Concluding his speech, Prime Minister Oli quoted the enlightened son of Nepal, Lord Buddha, stating, “However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?” He called upon the summit participants to act decisively and transform the Bay of Bengal region into a dynamic hub of prosperity, resilience, and openness.

The Prime Minister’s address echoed Nepal’s commitment to regional cooperation and integration, with a vision focused on sustainable growth, inclusive prosperity, and enhanced connectivity.

प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्