New Delhi: The BIMSTEC countries have concurred on increasing cooperation, to face the challenges posed on the international and regional levels. A meeting of ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC) was held recently. The special focus of the meeting was on the economic fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic. The meeting held in Sri Lanka was held in the virtual form, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Next BIMSTEC meeting is scheduled to be held in January next year.
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand are the members of BIMSTEC. India was represented in the meeting by Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary with the foreign ministry. The countries concurred on increasing cooperation among member countries. The Coronavirus has triggered an economic crisis in the world. The BIMSTEC countries also are being hit by this. The focus of the meeting was on the economic challenges related to the situation. The BIMSTEC charter, pending since the last year, was also passed during the meeting.
The population of BIMSTEC countries is 22% of the global population. The countries have a stake of $2.8 trillion in the global economy. Therefore, economic cooperation among member countries becomes important. The importance of BIMSTEC has increased after India withdrew from the SAARC meeting, criticising Pakistani terrorist policies. India too has isolated Pakistan, giving more importance to BIMSTEC. The way India is increasing cooperation with the south-east Asian countries, under the Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, the cooperation is being increased with the BIMSTEC member countries on similar lines.
Meanwhile, concerns are being expressed that the Indian and Chinese armies are involved in a standoff in Ladakh and war can be sparked at any moment. But severe anger is being expressed from all around the world against China, who is responsible for the Coronavirus menace. At the same time, it is also being revealed that the BIMSTEC countries face the threat of Chinese expansionism and its predatory economic policies. In this scenario, Indian cooperation with these countries is strengthening and indications of Indian political influence increasing further are being received.
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