BIMSTEC should focus on economic integration: Nepal Foreign Min

Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Monday said that the BIMSTEC summit should be centered more on economic and technical cooperation.

His comments came in response to a query on Nepal's last-minute decision of pulling out of the BIMSTEC joint military exercise and its decision to participate with China in the bilateral military exercise.

Gyawali told ANI, "The main priorities of BIMSTEC is to materialise the economic integration in the region. Security is the important factor but we should focus on economic and practical activities. As far as joint military exercise is concerned, we are doing it with almost all nations. Around a dozen joint military exercises have been held with India under the banner of 'Surya Kiran'. Basically, BIMSTEC should focus on economic and technical cooperation. That's why Nepal thought that participation at the observer level will be sufficient."

Terming his meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj as good, Gyawali said, "The high-level exchange visits of Prime Ministers of Nepal and India has contributed a lot to enhance and strengthen our bilateral relations. We briefly overviewed and expressed our satisfaction with the level of the friendship and cooperation which is taking momentum nowadays."

Gyawali is a delegation member headed by Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York for this week.