April 28: The Heads of State of Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan arrived for the 16th SAARC summit yesterday. On arrival, they were received by the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley at the Paro International Airport.

Later in the afternoon, the Heads of State had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister.

Bhutan and Bangladesh discuss need to explore trade routes

Meeting with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, the two leaders discussed the need to expand trade and explore routes to conduct trade by obtaining transit facilities through India.

Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley thanked Prime Minister Hassina for the generous assistance to the victims of the natural disaster that struck Bhutan.

He also thanked Bangladesh for lifting tariff on 18 items exported to Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Hassina said Bangladesh will continue to provide scholarships to Bhutanese students and support medical studies.




With Maldives, PM discussed importance of combating climate change

The President of Maldives said climate change theme is important for SAARC and for Maldives in Particular. He said both developed and developing countries should have legally binding agreement on emission level.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley said, Maldives cabinet under the sea made a huge point and created tremendous impression conveying a powerful message to the outside world on the threats of climate change.

Lyonchhen said Bhutan support the efforts of Maldives to combat climate change. The two leaders agreed that hydro power was a solution to fossil fuel energy.

Bhutanese and Nepali PMs agree to enhance interaction

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley and Nepalese Prime Minister discussed several bilateral issues and areas to broaden cooperation between the two countries. This included the need to work together and learn from each other’s experience.

They agreed in particular the need to harness hydropower to uplift the people economically and provide green and sustainable energy and reduce the use of energy from burning fossil fuels in the region.

They also agreed that the two countries becoming stronger, stable and more prosperous which would be mutually beneficial and said relation should be further improved by enhancing interaction. On the issue of people in Nepal, the two leaders felt that the dialogue should continue whenever possible.

They also expressed the need to renew the air services agreement and bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

Meeting with Pakistani PM focuses on people to people contact

Lyonchhen Jigme Y. Thinley and Pakistani Prime Minister discussed the importance of using the SAARC forum to strengthen relationships in the region. Between Bhutan and Pakistan, it was felt that the two countries should promote people to people contact through high level exchange of visit.

Prime Minister Gilani said his government will assist Bhutanese pilgrims to visit Swat province of Pakistan where Guru Padmasambhava was born. This he said will be done as soon as the security situation improves in Pakistan. He said Pakistan could learn from Bhutan in the energy sector particularly that of hydropower.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley said the SAARC spirit has brought the Pakistani Prime Minister to the summit despite having pressing concern at home. He hoped the summit would bring the leaders together and closer so that there is genuine friendship leading to building of trust and confidence.



Bhutan and Afghanistan discuss sharing of expertise

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan said he was looking forward to visiting Bhutan. He said there is plenty of commonality between the two countries, both being landlocked.

The two leaders shared experiences of climate change and noted that the adverse impact of climate change were visible in both the countries including dropping of water level, deforestation and pollution.

The two leaders felt Bhutan and Afghanistan can share their expertise and experiences in the health services, education and organic farming.




Bhutan and Sri Lanka looks at increasing cultural tourism

The two Leaders discussed the importance of increasing cultural tourism between the two countries considering the shared Buddhist values and cultures.

Lyonchhen informed the visiting President of his intention to propose to the SAARC Community to consider the possibility of studying Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness as an alternative development paradigm. It was proposed that an intergovernmental meeting could examine this.

While extending his appreciation for the manner in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa had successfully steered SAARC during his tenure as its chairman for the last one and a half years, the prime minister also congratulated the president and his party for their victory in the last general elections.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said it was most befitting and auspicious that the 16th summit falling on the Silver Jubilee year of SAARC was being hosted by Bhutan, the land of Gross National Happiness.

The president also pointed out that the climate change theme chosen for the summit was timely, relevant and significant not just for the region but the whole world.