The tiny Himalayan nation, Bhutan will host the next South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in capital Thimphu.
The two-day meeting, starting on April 28, will witness the participation of the “heads of state or governments” of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives with the host being Bhutan. Moreover, observers from some other countries including Burma will also join the programme.
The Bhutanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Dasho Bap Kesang recently informed the media that the Thimphu summit would primarily highlight the issue of climate change and the theme of the summit will be “Conservation of Environment and Climate”.
In addition issues like poverty reduction, connectivity and sharing of water resources will feature at the summit, the envoy added.
This is the first time, Bhutan, sandwiched between India and Tibet (China) is organizing the SAARC summit and it is also 25 years of existence of the regional political forum.
Transformed into a multiparty democracy two years ago, the Himalayan nation earlier did not get the opportunity for various reasons including essential infrastructure in Thimphu.
The summit, where observers from China, Iran, Japan, Australia, Mauritius, Burma, South Korea with the United States and European Union will be present, is supposed to provide adequate space for discussion on its climate change theme.
Kuensel, a government run newspaper from Thimphu, reports the ongoing brisk preparation for the summit saying,”from whitewashing retention walls in the capital to putting the finishing touches to the ministers” enclave in Motithang, preparations are in full swing as the country gears up to host the 16th SAARC summit.
“In its 25 years of existence, Bhutan could not host the summit even once. Bhutan lost the opportunity of being host thrice, citing lack of infrastructure. However, it has agreed to host, coincidentally, the silver jubilee of SAARC summit on April 28 and 29,” Kuensel said.
Quoting the Bhutanese Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, the newspaper also disclosed, the capital city will be swarming with delegates. About 450 people, including VVIPs, and 150 journalists, are expected to be in Thimphu to cover the proceedings of the summit.
The Foreign Minister also stated that South Asia shares a common problem in varying ways. Whether it is melting glaciers in the Himalayas, rising sea levels or losing underground water, the effect of climate change affects all SAARC countries, he said.
