Modi urges Saarc nations to work together
South Asian countries should identify specific areas of common heritage, challenges and opportunities to foster region- wide cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, while committing India’s full support to the Saarc process. He made the remarks while receiving Nepalese foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey who handed over to him a formal invite from Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for attending the upcoming Saarc Summit in Kathmandu on November 26- 27.
According to news agency reports, Nepal has requested for vehicles, including bullet- proof cars for the Saarc Summit and India would be supplying these. However, the exact number of vehicles which will be supplied was not given by the officials, the reports said. Mr Modi, who had invited leaders of all Saarc countries for his swearing- in in May, reiterated that he attaches the highest level of priority to relations with Saarc countries and that he keenly looks forward to partici- pating in his first Summit of the eight- member grouping. He considered the Saarc as a vital instrument to add to the strength of each member nation and advance collective action for shared prosperity in the region, a PMO statement said.
Meanwhile, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Nepalese counterpart Mahendra Bahadur Pandey on the forthcoming Saarc Summit.