5th BIMSTEC Summit: MoFA Union Minister Joins Via Video Conference

On behalf of the Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin participated in the 5th BIMSTEC Summit via video conference on Wednesday.

The Summit Colombo of Sri Lanka was also attended by the Heads of State/Government of other BIMSTEC Member States which are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and the Secretary-General of BIMSTEC. The Summit began with remarks by President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and other Leaders of BIMSTEC Member States also delivered their statements. In his statement, Union Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin stated that BIMSTEC has entered into a new era through the signing of BIMSTEC Charter which ensures BIMSTEC to be a rule-based organization.

The Charter has reaffirmed the long-standing principles of BIMSTEC such as the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and consensus. The principle of sovereign equality has direct correlation with mutual trust, confidence and understanding upon the cooperation mechanism by the Member States.

He expressed his belief that a strong “Regional Resilient” against the backdrop of global economic recession can be built through the collective power of BIMSTEC based on the solidarity of seven Member States of BIMSTEC. Terrorism is unacceptable affront to all humanity and must condemn all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, which cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motivation, forms and manifestations, wherever and whoever committed.

He welcomed the entry into force of “BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking” and the signing of the “BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters” during the Summit. At this Summit, the Leaders of BIMSTEC Member States signed the BIMSTEC Charter virtually.

Also, 3 legal instruments; BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, BIMSTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training among the Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of the Member States and Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) were signed. The Summit also approved the reconstituted Sectors and Sub-Sectors of BIMSTEC Cooperation and adopted the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity.

According to reconstituted structure of BIMSTEC, Myanmar will be the Lead Country of Agricultural and Food Security Sector. The President the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka handed over the chairmanship of BIMSTEC to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Declaration of the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit was issued at the end of the Summit by consensus.