Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah in his address to the 5th BIMST-EC ministerial level meeting held in Colombo expressed Nepal’s willingness to join the group that is comprised of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Nepal has been participating in the meeting as an observer. In regard to Nepal’s request for full-fledged membership, the joint statement issued at the end of ministerial meeting states, “We note that the

moratorium on the expansion of membership ends in 2002.”

“We request the working group to formulate criteria for membership in BIMST-EC and report to member state by the end of February, 2003.” “We also direct that the criteria for the membership be considered by the inter-sessional senior officials’ meeting and recommendations be submitted to ministers of foreign affairs for a decision on the application of Nepal,” it stated.

The participating foreign ministers paid joint courtesy call on Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, President of Sri Lanka at the President’s House. Foreign Minister Narendra Bikram Shah paid a separate courtesy call on Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the Temple Trees.

On the occasion, Minister Shah discussed bilateral, regional and BIMST-EC issues with the Prime Minister.