Nepal PM leaves for Myanmar to attend BIMSTEC Summit

Nepal's new Prime Minister Sushil Koirala today left for Myanmar to attend the third BIMSTEC Summit where he will also have bilateral meetings with the heads of South Asian nations, including India, to explore opportunities in various fields like economy.
"Nepal's participation in the BIMSTEC Summit would be important and fruitful," Koirala said talking to reporters before leaving for Myanmar with a 15-member delegation.
Koirala will assume the leadership of seven-member Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) after the Myanmar summit.
The seven members are India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Koirala is scheduled to have bilateral meetings and discussions with the Heads of States/Governments of South Asian nations, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He is also expected to meet Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

These meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for Nepal to explore various opportunities on economic and technical fronts as well as presenting its views on the issues of common interests and mutual benefits, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Koirala will address the BIMSTEC Summit Meeting before returning to Nepal on March 6.
The 2014 will provide Nepal "an excellent opportunity" to demonstrate its capability as the Himalayan republic will assume leadership of two regional organisations BIMSTEC and SAARC.
Nepal will also host the 18th SAARC summit in November, when the country will get the chairmanship of the group, according to an official at the Prime Minister's office.