Pakistan and Nepal decide to revitalise Saarc process
kathmandu — Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli held bilateral talks with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and both the leaders decided to revitalise the stalled Saarc process.
During the meeting on Monday evening, both the leaders discussed the matters related to enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, tourism, agriculture and human resource development, said a statement issued by Nepal’s Foreign Ministry.
Oli and Abbasi agreed to hold regular meetings of bilateral mechanisms and the talks also emphasised on the stalled South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) process. The Pakistani leader sought to host the summit of the regional grouping and asked Nepal to create a “favourable environment” for the same.
Nepal is the current chair of the regional grouping.
On matters relating to the Saarc, Oli’s chief political adviser Bishnu Rimal said “both leaders held a common view on taking the Saarc forum ahead as it was a common platform for all member countries and still significant”. “They also emphasised on resolving any issue of difference in Saarc through dialogue and discussion,” Rimal was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times.
In the meeting, Oli responded to Abbasi’s invitation to visit Pakistan by saying “he would make the visit in an opportune time”. The Pakistani prime minister also congratulated his Nepali counterpart over his election as the prime minister and wished him a successful tenure.
Abbasi also mentioned that CPEC was the visible and significant part of OBOR and had resulted in materialising of several development projects in the country including motorways, Gwadar airport, economic free zones and energy generation projects. He said CPEC would ensure connectivity of regional countries with China and all Central Asian states. — IANS, APP