Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 31:

Apart from various issues for economic integration in the region, the coming 13th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will discuss how to create a common position of South Asian countries in the World Trade Organisation. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, today said Nepal will propose declaring the third decade of SAARC as one of implementation. “Several agreements, declarations and conventions have been signed by member-countries but never implemented well, so Nepal will stress on implementing those instruments effectivley,” said Dr Mahat.

Other issues to be discussed are High Economic Council, South Asian Deveopment Bank and the $10 billion SAARC Infrastructure Development Fund, as per India’s proposal. The seven countries will also discuss waiving visa fee within the region. Nepal has unilaterally waived visa fee for SAARC country nationals. SAARC leaders will discuss enhancing and strengthening the SAARC Secretariat and may sign four accords related to trade, according to Dr Mahat. “Nepal will propose bringing youth-centric programmes for regional development.”Asked about the possibility of including China in the grouping, he said SAARC countries are open to including other countries as dialogue partners.

Asked to comment on the Bhutanese King’s remark on refugees, he said, “We will come up with an official response on the matter. Nepal’s stance is Bhutan should cooperate for verification of its citizens and take them back, “ said Dr Mahat.