Kathmandu, 4 April: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that climate change has created a crisis for the existence of the entire human race. Addressing the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, he stated that this risk is even greater for Nepal.
“The mountains here are contributing to reducing global warming, but despite our low carbon emissions, they are facing a disproportionate attack. Its impact is not only on the mountains but also on the lowlands and coastal areas,” Prime Minister Oli said.
Prime Minister Oli said that the impact of climate change is not limited to the mountains but also affects the Terai and coastal areas. “To highlight the suffering of the mountains and the relationship between the mountains and the sea, Nepal is organizing the first edition of Sagarmatha Sambad in May and I look forward to seeing many of you there,” he said.
Noting that the impact of climate change is causing sea levels to rise in coastal areas and storm events to intensify, he said the BIMSTEC region is facing extreme weather events such as avalanches, cyclones, thunderstorms, heat waves and droughts. “It is imperative that we act decisively to protect our people and our future, and that we work collectively on climate change issues,” Prime Minister Oli said.
He highlighted the need to increase regional energy trade through cross-border energy grids and renewable energy projects by investing in the hydropower sector. He also stressed the need to work together to overcome rising trade tensions and supply chain disruptions and embrace rapid technological change.
“Disaster preparedness, public health services, and inclusive economic policies must remain at the heart of our regional agenda, promoting social and cultural harmony, and fostering a strong sense of community,” said Prime Minister Oli. “The Sustainable Development Goals must be integrated with national and regional policy frameworks and addressed in a just, inclusive manner.”
Stating that he has come here with a message from the 30 million Nepali people for the success of the summit and the lasting peace, welfare and prosperity of the people of BIMSTEC member countries, he expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Pei Thong Than Shinawatra and the government for their warm hospitality and organizing the summit. He also expressed condolences and sympathy on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the people of Nepal to the governments and people of Myanmar and Thailand for the loss of life and property caused by the devastating earthquake.
“It has been more than two decades since BIMSTEC was launched in this city. During this period, we have witnessed radical changes and transformations in the Bay of Bengal region and beyond,” he said. “In these two decades, the Bay of Bengal has emerged as one of the fastest growing regions in the global economic landscape, however, challenges remain. The quest for peace and prosperity continues.”
The conference theme guides us
Amidst the challenges of economic inequality, environmental risks and political uncertainty, BIMSTEC needs to be effectively advanced. It also needs to revitalize regional cooperation, he said. “I believe that the theme of the summit, ‘Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC’, provides us with that guidance,” he said.
Noting that BIMSTEC presents an example of a unique collaboration between two dynamic regions, South Asia and Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Oli said that as a unique bridge, it will encompass the collective aspirations of more than 1.8 billion people.
He said that the Sustainable Development Goals of prosperity, resilience and openness also resonate deeply with Nepal’s national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’. “Today’s theme is not just a slogan, it is a call to action. These three priorities will determine our path forward,” said Prime Minister Oli.
He noted that the BIMSTEC region is rich in natural resources, cultural diversity and young manpower, and is full of immense potential from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Considering the immense potential of the region, he said that prosperity is not just a wish but an achievable goal. “But to achieve the goal, we need to use it strategically; it needs to be invested in human capital in a sustainable manner,” he said.
Noting that the 4th BIMSTEC Summit held in Kathmandu had emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in education, skill development and capacity building, Prime Minister Oli said that regional connectivity is an important pillar in our quest for prosperity. “The connectivity of markets and minds, the connectivity of infrastructure and ideas, the connectivity of culture and cyber is another backbone of development,” he said.
बैङ्कक, २२ चैत :
बहुक्षेत्रीय प्राविधिक तथा आर्थिक सहयोगका लागि बङ्गालको खाडीको प्रयास (बिम्स्टेक) को छैटौँ शिखर सम्मेलन सुरु भएको छ । बैङ्ककस्थित होटल साड्ग्रिलामा सदस्य मुलुकका सरकार प्रमुखहरुको सामूहिक फोटोसेसन र कार्यसूची टेबल गरिएसँगै बिम्स्टेक सम्मेलन सुरु भएको हो । तस्बिर सौजन्य : प्रधानमन्त्रीको सचिवालय/रासस The sixth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has begun. The BIMSTEC summit began with a group photo session of the heads of government of the member countries and the tabulation of the agenda at Hotel Sadgrila in Bangkok. Photo courtesy: Prime Minister’s Secretariat/RSS
BIMSTEC emphasizes interconnection for prosperity
He said that the timely implementation of the BIMSTEC Transport Interconnection Master Plan and the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement would bring significant progress in this regard. “It is a matter of concern that intra-regional trade in BIMSTEC is only five percent, which is much lower than ASEAN, EU or NAFTA,” he said. He stressed that this must change, noting that our region is among the least integrated regions globally, apart from the natural interconnectedness of our societies, economies and nations.
Prime Minister Oli stressed that it is imperative to build an integrated Bay of Bengal region to unleash this potential and leverage the resources and assets we have. He acknowledged that not all economies in the region are equal, and noted that special opportunities should be provided to member states with special needs to enable them to participate in shared prosperity.
He said that today the world is at a crossroads and that in the past few years, resilience has been the strongest defense in a world of uncertainties, from ecology to economy, trade tensions to technological disruptions, climate change to conflict, from the pain of pandemics to the threat of polarization.
Stating that openness is the cornerstone for a vibrant and dynamic BIMSTEC, he highlighted the need for long-term stability that holistically addresses political, economic, ecological and cultural concerns. “We must strengthen people-to-people contacts through sustainable tourism, cultural exchanges, educational ties, and cross-border investment,” he said.
He said that a visa-on-arrival policy within BIMSTEC would be a game-changer in facilitating travel and fostering deeper regional ties. “We must prioritize digital integration to facilitate e-commerce, cross-border payments and e-governance,” said Prime Minister Oli. He stressed the need to prioritize research and development to foster innovation and address common challenges, from climate change to food security to technology-driven economic transformation.
Noting that it is a collective responsibility to ensure that no BIMSTEC nation is left behind, he reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the BIMSTEC Charter and the principles it upholds. “We are proud to lead the people-to-people connectivity and look forward to further strengthening partnerships in priority areas,” Prime Minister Oli said. “We stand at a historic juncture. Let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transform the Bay of Bengal into a prosperous, resilient and open region.”
Prime Minister Oli said that our strength lies in unity and shines in strong collaboration, saying, “The future belongs to those who act with determination and vision. I would like to conclude my remarks with the wise words of Lord Buddha, the pioneer of peace born in Nepal. “No matter how many sacred words you read, no matter how many you speak, if you do not put them into practice, what good will they do you?”
He called for turning our words into actions to build a BIMSTEC that delivers results for the people of the region and future generations, and for transforming the region into a dynamic hub of prosperity, resilience, and openness.
In his address, Prime Minister Oli praised Thailand for its visionary leadership in the BIMSTEC process over the past three years as the Chair of BIMSTEC. He also expressed his best wishes to neighboring Bangladesh for its leadership of BIMSTEC as the next Chair and assured it of strong support.
