KATHMANDU: Nepal has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on the occasion of the grouping’s 29th anniversary.

In separate messages issued on June 6 (Saturday), Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal extended greetings to the governments and peoples of BIMSTEC member states and underscored the importance of deeper regional collaboration.

The Prime Minister described BIMSTEC as a dynamic platform for regional cooperation and stressed the need to enhance transport, trade, and digital connectivity to promote economic integration. He also called for greater cooperation in tourism, youth engagement, entrepreneurship, climate resilience, and disaster management.

The Foreign Minister highlighted BIMSTEC’s progress since its establishment in 1997 and emphasized the importance of effective implementation of the BIMSTEC Charter. He reaffirmed Nepal’s readiness, as the lead country for the people-to-people contact sector, to promote tourism, cultural exchanges, and regional ties.