Home »Business and Economy » Pakistan » India not trying to keep Pakistan out of Bimstec: Singh

  • News Desk
  • Aug 1st, 2004
  • Comments Off on India not trying to keep Pakistan out of Bimstec: Singh
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday said India was not trying to keep Pakistan out of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (Bimstec) grouping.

"We are not trying to isolate any country. Pakistan is not linked graphically to Bay of Bengal and it is as simple as that," he said while addressing a press conference in Bangkok.

The Prime Minister was asked as if India was trying to isolate Pakistan in the seven-member regional grouping.

Meanwhile India today agreed to host the 2006 summit of Bimstec, a grouping of seven Asian countries, following a request from all the participants.

"At the request of all the participants, India agreed to host the next Bimstec summit in 2006," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, according to a news report received here from Bangkok.

He said between now and then, a lot of work was needed at senior official and ministerial levels.

In a bid to boost trade and investment in the region, India and six other Asian countries decided to take steps for timely completion of the area negotiations apart from introducing a special Bimstec.

At the first summit of Bimstec, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with leaders from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal signed a joint declaration, committing themselves to give a fillip to region co-operation by a slew of measures, including development of infrastructure.

Bimstec members decided to facilitate travel within the region for businesses, exchange programme and tourism through a business travel card or visa.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2004


the author

Top
Close
Close