The meeting was part of preparations to hold the fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu on August 30-31.

Established two decades ago, the sub-regional body aims to enhance technical and economic cooperation among the southern and southeastern countries of Asia along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

This cooperation covers BIMSTEC-identified different areas, including commerce, investment, technology, tourism, human resource development, agriculture, fisheries, transport and communication, textiles and leather.

The meeting attended by senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of the BIMSTEC member states is headed by Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanker Das Bairagi. The special meeting held ahead of the BIMSTEC fourth Summit scheduled for coming August 30-31.

It reviewed progress on the 14 areas of priorities including trade, investment, transport and communications, energy, tourism, agriculture, counter-terrorism, poverty alleviation, public health, environment and natural disaster and climate change set by the member states.

According to Secretary Bairagi, the meeting is focused on the preparations regarding the upcoming Summit. The decisions of the meeting will be disclosed in a press meet today, he said.