India committed to working with BIMSTEC members to enhance connectivity: PM Narendra Modi

India is committed to work with BIMSTEC member states to enhance regional connectivity and combat the menace of terrorism and drug trafficking, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday

Addressing the inaugural session of the 4th BIMSTEC summit in Kathmandu, PM Modi also called for “cooperation and coordination” among member states in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

“There is no country in the region which has not suffered from terrorism and trans-national crimes such as drug trafficking linked to networks of terrorism,” he told the summit which was inaugurated by Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

Modi said India is ready to host a conference under BIMSTEC frame-work on narcotics related topics.

The BIMSTEC is a regional grouping comprising India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The grouping accounts for 22% of the global population, and has a combined gross domestic product of $2.8 trillion.

“We not only have diplomatic relations with all BIMSTEC countries but are strongly connected by civilisation, history, art, language, cuisine and shared culture,” Prime Minister Modi said.

He also said that India is committed to enhance its national knowledge network in the field of digital connectivity in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

The summit was attended by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and leaders from Thailand, Bhutan and Myanmar.

First Published: Aug 30, 2018 18:09 IST