17th SAARC Summit to take place in Maldives

New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): The 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit will be held on November 10-11 in Maldives.

According to Sunday's The Kathmandu Post, citing the economic slowdown, the Maldives had earlier skipped hosting the 16th SAARC Summit. Later, Bhutan did the honors.

In a recent radio address to the people, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed said the government has decided to hold the 17th SAARC summit in the South Province.

He said a special team would coordinate and oversee the necessary preparations, and added that the 17th SAARC summit hosting would be a great honor for the Maldives.

For the first time in its 25-year-old history, SAARC is set to get its woman secretary general from the Maldives, Xinhua reports.

Maldives has circulated the name of former Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, 36, as Secretary General for approval by fellow member states.

Founded in 1985, SAARC includes Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. (ANI)