PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with BIMSTEC leaders

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on on May 31 held separate meetings with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, exploring ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.

A day after taking charge as prime minister for a second term,Shri Narendra Modi also held extensive talks with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth.

The foreign leaders came to India to attend Shri Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In the meeting between Shri Modi and Shri Sirisena, both leaders noted that terrorism and extremism continue to pose threat to humanity and expressed commitment for closer bilateral cooperation for peace and security in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, the external affairs ministry said.

Sri Lanka was hit by a wave of bombings last month in which over 250 people were killed.

“The Prime Minister warmly thanked President Sirisena for his gesture of attending the ceremony and also for his good wishes. He conveyed his government’s continued commitment to further foster friendly bilateral ties with Sri Lanka,” the MEA said.
On the meeting between Shri Modi and Shri Jugnauth, it said both leaders agreed to work together to achieve the shared vision of security and growth of the two countries and the Indian Ocean region.

“Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Jugnauth and reiterated his commitment to further strengthening the fraternal and enduring bilateral ties between the two countries in all spheres,” said the MEA.

Shri Modi also held talks with his Nepal counterpart K.P. Sharma Oli during which both leaders expressed their commitment in further deepening relations.

On Shri Modi’s talks with Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering, the MEA said the two leaders discussed bilateral commitments and agreed to further solidify the traditionally strong ties.

The Prime Minister also held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid during which they exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

In his first engagement after being sworn in, the Prime Minister held a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, who attended the oath taking ceremony as the Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

“Recalling that India and Kyrgyzstan have warm and friendly relations, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the years,” the MEA said.

India invited leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries as well as Jeenbekov and Jugnauth for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

Besides India, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

Founded in 1997, BIMSTEC currently represents over 1.5 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of USD 3.5 trillion.
-PTI