PM seeks strong cooperation from BIMSTEC to counter terrorism
Singh said the region faces common challenges that have to be collectively addressed
Nay Pyi Taw: Warning about the evolving threat of terrorism in the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) region, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday sought stronger cooperation from the seven-nation grouping to effectively counter it, asserting that their security is “indivisible".
Addressing the third BIMSTEC summit in Myanmar’s Nay Pyi Taw, Singh said the region faces many common challenges—from natural disasters to terrorism which have to be collectively addressed to make an important contribution to peace, harmony, security and prosperity in Asia and the world.
“Like our prosperity, our security, too, is indivisible—whether it is the security of sea lanes of communication in our region or the persisting challenges of terrorism and transnational crimes," he said. The seven members—India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal—bring together over 20% of the world population, which is about 1.5 billion, and a gross domestic product (GDP) of over $2.5 trillion.
“The nature of the evolving threat of terrorism in the BIMSTEC region has imparted greater urgency for stronger cooperation to counter it," Singh stressed. As part of this effort, the grouping must seek early ratification of the Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking, as also expediting signing of the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, he said, adding that negotiations should be commenced on a BIMSTEC Convention on Extradition. The Prime Minister also spoke of the many opportunities that BIMSTEC countries share in the fields of trade, economic cooperation and connectivity, saying all of this “presage a bright future for us".
He said the in realising the BIMSTEC vision, connectivity—hysical and digital—was the key to it and could be a drive of cooperation and integration in the region.
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