Thailand visit, BIMSTEC participation fruitful: PM Oli

Kathmandu, April 5: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said his official visit to Thailand and attendance in the sixth Summit of the BIMSTEC was very successful and meaningful.

His official visit to Thailand has reached the bilateral relations to a new height, PM Oli informed the press conference organized at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return today.

Fruitful discussion was held with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on forwarding regional and multi-sectoral cooperation and collaboration in addition to bilateral trade, investment, and developments of agriculture, tourism, culture, education and human resource development, according to him. The two countries, where the Buddhist religion and philosophy are common, agreed to strengthen diplomatic relations by expanding economic and cultural activities.

According him, Nepal secured commitment of Thai government’s support for Nepal’s national ambition of ‘Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali.’ For it to realize, Thailand was ready to extend supports in the sector of agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and IT.

Also shared by the PM in the news conference were the agreement made between the two countries to collaborate in the international and regional forums on common concern like climate change, world peace and sustainable development.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries on exchange of support in cultural and tourism fronts.

PM Oli also invited the Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra for Nepal visit, and expected her visit soon.

During his address to the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, PM Oli had shed light on various pressing issues of regional and global concerns like economic inequality, rising economic risk and political uncertainty. For resolving the problems, the PM underlined the need of regional cooperation. The slogan of the BIMSTEC summit reflected Nepal’s national ambition of ‘Prosperous Nepal-Happy Nepali’, the PM shared.

PM Oli further shared that he also invited the BIMSTEC member countries’ Heads for the participation in first edition of Sagarmatha Sambaad going to be organized by Nepal in order to hold discussion on environment and other regional and international challenges.

In his address to the Summit, he mentioned that the climate change has posed an existential threat to entire humanity.

During Thailand visit, PM Oli expressed condolences on the behalf of the government of Nepal, Nepali People and his own over the huge loss of lives and properties in the earthquake occurred in Myanmar and Thailand, and wished speedy recovery to the injured ones.

He viewed that Bangkok Declaration incorporated the issues—implementing BIMSTEC Vision 2030 for development, prosperity and sustainability of BIMSTEC region, utilizing opportunities of economic growth regionally.

Earlier to the Summit, the BIMSTEC ministry-level meeting laid emphasis on the need of approving action plan related to human resources development, public health, education, science and technology and climate change and bring it into implementation at earliest, he clarified.

During the meeting with Nepali and Thai entrepreneurs in course of the visit, PM Oli urged them for the investment in Nepal, saying the government was committed to making foreign investment easy, safe and result-oriented.

In the press conference, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai read the press note on the behalf of PM Oli.

PM Oli held meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Oli, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay and Prime Minister of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing during BIMSTEC Summit.

Leading a Nepali delegation, PM Oli had left for Thailand on April 1 for the official visit at the friendly invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit.