The House of Representatives (HoR) has given its approval to the Charter of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
During a session on Tuesday, the lower house of the Federal Parliament voted in favor of endorsing the BIMSTEC Charter, as proposed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
Responding to queries raised during the discussions on the provisions of the BIMSTEC Charter, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha affirmed the government’s support for the ideas presented by lawmakers regarding the importance of BIMSTEC and the endorsement of its Charter.
Highlighting Nepal’s active participation in multilateral and regional organizations, including the United Nations, Minister Shrestha emphasized the country’s commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of regional forums like BIMSTEC.
He underscored that while BIMSTEC serves important regional objectives, it should not overshadow the significance of organizations like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nepal remains dedicated to revitalizing SAARC and will continue to play an active role as its chair.
Minister Shrestha informed the House that Nepal, along with other member nations, had signed the BIMSTEC Charter during the Fifth Summit held in Sri Lanka in 2022. He noted that the Charter stipulates its implementation following endorsement by member parliaments, with Nepal being the latest to do so.
In discussions on the Charter, lawmakers including Dr. Swarnim Wagle of the Rastriya Swatantra Party praised Nepal’s endorsement, emphasizing the positive objectives outlined in the Charter without undermining Nepal’s sovereignty. They expressed optimism about the potential benefits of enhanced regional collaboration for Nepal’s economic prosperity.
Lawmakers also stressed the importance of leveraging BIMSTEC for technical, educational, and research cooperation, while emphasizing the government’s responsibility to prioritize national interests in regional engagements.
The endorsement process aligns with Article 279(1) of the Constitution of Nepal, which outlines procedures for treaty ratification. The Nepal Treaty Act 2027 mandates the government to present the Charter to the Federal Parliament for approval.
Established in 1997, BIMSTEC aims to foster regional coordination on economic prosperity, social progress, scientific advancement, peace, stability, and connectivity.
Its member nations include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, with Nepal joining in 2004.
