BIMSTEC member states express commitment to implement Paris Agreement on climate change

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-12 13:49:57|Editor: Yurou
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KATHMANDU, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states have expressed commitment to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Issuing a Kathmandu declaration after the 15th ministerial meeting in Kathmandu on Friday, the BIMSTEC member states said: "We note with great concern of the increasing threat to our planet and livelihoods of the people from climate change and agree to combat the same at local, national and regional levels. We also commit to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change."

The meeting welcomed the offer of the government of Bangladesh to convene the BIMSTEC experts' workshop on climate change in 2017.

The 15th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting was convened in Kathmandu, Nepal on Aug. 10-11.

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

"We recall the 1997 Bangkok Declaration establishing BIMSTEC and agree to intensify our collaborative efforts to realize the aims and purposes of BIMSTEC embodied therein and pledge to make BIMSTEC stronger, more effective and result oriented," read the joint declaration.

The BIMSTEC member states have emphasized the need for greater cooperation in trade and investment in order to deepen regional integration in the Bay of Bengal region.

"We recognize the paramount importance of early conclusion of BIMSTEC Free Trade Area and direct the Trade Negotiating Committee and Working Groups to expedite the finalization of its constituent Agreements," the declaration said.

"The meeting stressed on the need to expedite the negotiations on the Agreements on Services and Investment to augment economic cooperation in the BIMSTEC region," Nepali Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who chaired the session, told the media.

The BIMSTEC member states also underscored the importance of trade facilitation in our region and urge authorities for early finalization of the BIMSTEC Trade Facilitation Agreement.

During the meeting, BIMSTEC countries underlined the necessity of early finalization of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Mutual Assistance on Customs Matters.

In the field of energy, the meeting decided to conclude the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection at the earliest possible.

"We recognize the high potentials of energy sources in the region, particularly renewable and clean energy sources and agree to expedite our efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for energy cooperation within the region. We agree to explore the possibilities of promoting energy trade in the region," the Nepali foreign minister said.

According to Mahara, the government of Nepal will be hosting the third BIMSTEC Energy Ministers' Meeting in early 2018.

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