Meeting with leaders of other countries at BIMSTEC being explored: Vikram Misri

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the possibility of meeting with leaders of other member countries while in Bangkok on the occasion of the BIMSTEC summit is being explored.

In a special briefing organized on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Thailand (April 3 and 4) and Sri Lanka (April 4 to 6) on Friday afternoon, the Foreign Secretary was asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok. In response, Vikram Misri gave the same answer.

Earlier this Friday morning, a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said that only the bilateral meeting of the Indian Prime Minister with the Prime Minister of Thailand would be held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit.

Concerns were expressed in the briefing about the strong earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand. When asked whether the summit would be held in this situation, the Foreign Secretary said that close communication is being maintained with the two countries.

Bangladesh is the next president of BIMSTEC. Bangladesh will take over the presidency of this seven-nation organization at this conference. But when asked how India sees the future of this organization in the light of recent bilateral relations after the political upheaval in Bangladesh, Foreign Ministry Secretary (East) Joydeep Majumder said that India has no problem in taking the BIMSTEC agenda forward. Because all seven members of the organization are committed to this issue. He said that India is quite optimistic about the success of BIMSTEC. Every member is eager for its success.

Bangladesh's chief adviser is currently visiting China. Bangladesh has welcomed China's participation in the Teesta project. When asked about this, Vikram Misri said that he has nothing special to comment on it. Regarding the Teesta project, he said, I am not sure whether it is a new project or not.