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| Monday, 2 August 2004 |
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BIMST-EC to foster regional cooperation BANGKOK, Sunday - (BSS) Leaders of the South and South-east Asian countries at a summit here resolved to foster a "sense of community'' to lead to the economic and social development of the region. The first BIMSTEC summit attended by heads of government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand also decided to rename the grouping as BIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. The leaders at the summit assessed the challenges and opportunities for economic cooperation in the region; and declared to strengthen BIMSTEC's ability to find ways and means to realize those challenges and opportunities effectively and efficiently. The declaration was made public at a press conference here by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They affirmed that the realities provided a firm foundation on which to build our partnership and overall cooperation, the BIMSTEC summit declaration said. ``We are convinced that the geographical location of our countries and our rich natural and human resources provide a sound basis for mutually beneficial cooperation'', the South and Southeast Asian leaders said, adding: the pluralistic nature of our societies, our shared cultural heritage and the rich diversity of languages, arts, crafts and traditions provide ample opportunity for multi-dimensional cooperation within our region. In the backdrop of the scenario, the summit was convinced that regional and sub-regional economic cooperation such as our contribute to efforts towards global free and fair trade being pursued under the multilateral trading regime. The leaders noted with satisfaction the BIMSTEC's achievements so far, including the signing of the Framework Agreement of a BIMSTEC Free Trade Area, the launch of visit BIMSTEC Year 2004 and the year-long Plan of Action on tourism and the establishment of BIMSTEC chamber of commerce. The leaders also noted with satisfaction over the first BIMSTEC Youth Football Tournament in Phuket, the establishment of the BIMSTEC Center in Bangkok and a bio-mass gasified plant in Myanmar, and pledged to move forward with renewed vigor. They agreed to focus on specific areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, transport and communications, tourism, energy, human resources development, agriculture, fisheries, science and technology and people-to-people contact. They also agree to explore the expansion of BIMSTEC cooperation into the areas of public health, education, rural community development, small and medium scale enterprise, construction, environment, information and communications technology, biotechnology, and weather and climate research, natural disaster mitigation and management. The leaders agreed to take all possible steps, including timely completion of the Free Trade Area negotiations for realization of the full potential of BIMSTEC trade and investment, taking into account the special needs of individual member countries. They recognized that future cooperation under BIMSTEC requires the development of key infrastructure, in particular transportation and communication linkages, to facilitate tourism, trade and investment and accordingly agreed to strengthen and accelerate cooperation for developing concrete project proposals such as the ongoing negotiations on road linkages between the member countries. They also agree to promote sustainable and optimal energy utilization through development of new hydrocarbon and hydropower projects, interconnection of electricity and natural gas grids, energy conservation, and renewable energy technologies. The leaders agreed to coordinate our diverse strengths in the tourism sector to derive maximum benefit from our natural, cultural and historical attractions, and recognized the need to enhance inter-regional tourism through such strategies as joint marketing of Intra-BIMSTEC tourism packages, exchange of visits and information as well as sub- regional tourism cooperation. They agreed to facilitate travel within the region for business, exchange programmes and tourism, including through the introduction of a BIMSTEC Business Travel Card/Visa. Dr Thaksin said the first summit was an opportunity to shift BIMSTEC into a higher gear to keep pace with the ever-rapid changes in the world. "To meet the new challenges and opportunities, it is important to strengthen BIMSTEC from within,'' he said. The Thai prime minister said in growing together, the BIMSTEC leaders need to be wise to the ways of globalization, to open their eyes to the possibilities of technology and the marketplace. |
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