SAARC members discussed matters of mutual interest: Koirala

Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit concluded successfully on Thursday, and added that the members discussed matters of mutual interest including advancing regional cooperation.

"I am pleased to inform you that the 18th SAARC summit has concluded successfully. We look forward to development through peace and institutionalization of democracy," Koirala said.

"We held informal discussions on important issues in the summit. The members discussed matters of mutual interest including advancing regional cooperation. Nepal is making a democratic transition. We are driven by vision of progress within an overall framework of democracy. We are working with political parties based on mutual trust and understanding. We look forward to bring development through peace," he added.

SAARC has changed its programme and has decided to hold the summit once in two years rather than keeping the conference an annual event. The grouping has decided to hold its next summit in Islamabad in 2016.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other SAARC members held informal talks at the retreat session at picturesque Dhulikhel.