In Pics: SAARC Summit 2016 – Swaraj and Aziz Meet

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in is Nepal to attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Mini Summit.

She met her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz this morning over breakfast at the Fishtail Hotel on Fewa River ahead of the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting.

Sartaj Azis has sought a formal meeting with Sushma Swaraj to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SAARC Summit to be hosted later this year in Pakistan.

Yesterday also at dinner both the Foreign Ministers were seated together. This is the first meeting between the two Foreign Minister after Pathankot Air Base attack earlier this year.

Sushma Swaraj's address at the 37th Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers:

Mrs. Sushma Swaraj began her address at the 37th Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers by stating that SAARC embodies aspirations of our people who are poised to take off as region of vitality, creativity and economic growth.

She further added that, "We must think innovatively and find solutions to harness our economic complementarities."

Alike Nepalese PM she too stressed on increasing connectivity. She said, "Economic, cultural and people to people contacts will flow naturally from connectivity."

On future of SAARC she had this to say, "Together we can create viable ecosystem of regional integration, cooperation and socio-economic development."

On behalf of India she promised SAARC that we are prepared to work within SAARC to realise developmental goals. Our universities remain open for SAARC citizens she added.

She concluded her speech by saying that, "We have moved forward on unilateral initiatives announced last summit for sharing Indian Science and Technological progress with SAARC. We have a shared history and as shared destiny. Let us reach for it together."

Neighbourly Engagement!
EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Maldives FM Dunya Maumoon on sidelines of 37th SAARC Ministerial pic.twitter.com/qzPh1cybyh

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) March 17, 2016

KP Sharma Oli addresses inaugural segment of SAARC:

Nepalese Prime Minister addressed the inaugural segment of the 37th Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers in the Resort Town of Pokhara. In an emotional appeal PM Oli said that, "What we need is the political will of highest order to cooperate and to collaborate in a spirit of enduring partnership."

He also highlighted the need for better connectivity among the South Asian nations. He said that, "Connectivity remains a key enabler for robust regional cooperation. Connectivity of infrastructures as well as of ideas, connectivity in terms of information and telecommunication technology as well as of knowledge, connectivity in terms of energy as well as of literature and culture, connectivity of markets as well as of minds can indeed unleash the potential of South Asian cooperation, he pointed. The dream of prosperous South Asia cannot survive without the lifeline of connectivity."

While stressing on the need to vitalise trade which is called the engine of economic prosperity for development of South Asia he said that, "It is unfortunate to note that we trade little within the region."

He concluded his speech by outlining his vision for the SAARC by saying that SAARC must be established as the region where women are safe, where children are secure, and where they will live with dignity, with freedom from fear.

During his speech PM Oli expressed hope that this ministerial meet will focus on the review of the implementation of the decision that are part of the Kathmandu Declaration 2014 and will work out agendas for consideration at the 19th Summit to be held in Pakistan in November.