Bimstec Summit Begins: Oli Meets Modi in Bangkok Today

Kathmandu, April 4 -- The sixth Bimstec summit is set to commence on Friday, with foreign ministers from all seven member countries having finalized the summit declaration along with other documents slated for signing in Bangkok.

Ahead of the summit, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra organized a dinner on Thursday evening for all participating leaders of states and governments as well as delegation members.

On Thursday, as reported by the Bimstec secretariat, the organization’s foreign ministers signed the Bimstec Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation. Additionally, two Memoranda of Understanding were inked between Bimstec and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

According to the schedule, the summit will commence formally on Friday, starting with an opening speech by the current Bimstec chair, Shinawatra. Following this, the agenda for the summit will be approved. Subsequently, the heads of states and governments will deliver their addresses at the event.

In accordance with the instructions from Bimstec leaders, Shinawatra will deliver remarks at a press conference.

The 25th Session of the Bimstec Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), held at the foreign secretary level, has concluded with the drafting of a declaration for the sixth Bimstec summit. This document encapsulates the vision, resolutions, and instructions intended for adoption by the participating leaders during the summit.

The meeting concluded the drafting of the 20th Bimstec ministerial meeting’s preliminary report, which the foreign ministers will review and approve during the upcoming 20th Bimstec ministerial gathering on Thursday, as stated by the Bimstec secretariat in an official release.

The SOM Meeting likewise examined the report from the Eminent Persons Group concerning the future path of BIMSTEC, encompassing suggestions aimed at rejuvenating and overhauling Bimstec.

The meeting likewise reviewed multiple reports concerning the draft concept note for the Bimstec Center of Excellence on Tropical Medicine, designed to outline the creation of this center in Bangkok, Thailand. Additionally, they examined the proposed joint statement from Bimstec leaders addressing the effects of the earthquakes that occurred in Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, 2025, emphasizing the prompt establishment of a Bimstec Center of Excellence focused on disaster management within India.

The Bimstec includes seven nations from the Bay of Bengal area: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. This organization focuses on collaboration across seven key areas: agriculture and food security; connectivity; environment and climate change; people-to-people contact; science, technology, and innovation; security; and trade, investment, and development.

The collaboration encompasses eight sub-sectors: Blue Economy, Mountain Economy, Energy, Disaster Management, Fisheries and Livestock, Poverty Alleviation, Health, and Human Resources.

Oli encounters leaders at the side lines.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Oli conducted one-on-one talks with various leaders from Bimstec nations.

The Prime Minister is set to have a meeting with India’s leader, Narendra Modi, at 4:00 PM local time on Friday during the sideline events of the summit.

On Thursday, Oli encountered his Sri Lankan counterpart, Harini Amarasuriya.

"We talked about Sri Lanka’s political environment, Nepal’s constitutional matters, potential investments, and ways to strengthen relations via the Buddha-Lumbini-Colombo route," Oli posted on X.

In the early part of the day, Oli spoke at an event held at the Asian Institute of Technology. Noting that AIT has produced 1,795 Nepalese graduates and currently enrolls another 181 students from Nepal, he stated that this institution plays a crucial role in developing competent human resources for his country. Additionally, Oli reiterated Nepal’s backing as AIT pledges to educate even more talented individuals from Nepal.

The prime minister stated that numerous alumni from this institution are playing key roles in Nepal’s progress across various sectors including infrastructure, water resources, information technology, and policymaking. He also mentioned that their partnership with this institution has consistently been marked by admiration and optimism.

During his speech, the prime minister emphasized the importance of collaborative endeavors to guarantee a safe and thriving tomorrow for mankind. He pointed out that the Nepalese government is dedicated to enhancing people’s joy, wealth, safety, and personal worth.

He similarly emphasized the importance of cooperative initiatives at local, national, and international scales to tackle climate change, which stands as a shared and worldwide issue affecting everyone.

During a breakfast meeting with Thai business leaders, the prime minister discussed investment and trade prospects in Nepal. He noted their innovative ideas for possible investments, as mentioned on X by Oli. "I informed them about the favorable conditions for investing in our country," he added.

Oli also had an encounter with Min Aung Hlaing, who serves as the Prime Minister of Myanmar. They conversed about the catastrophic earthquakes affecting Myanmar and shared their perspectives on enhancing collaborations at bilateral, regional, and multilateral stages, according to Oli.

Similarly, the prime minister mentioned that he had a fruitful discussion with Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. They reviewed their previous bilateral talks from September in New York and delved into significant conversations about different aspects of their collaboration, as noted by Oli on X.

Following the meeting, Tobgay also posted on X stating that they "talked about the enduring bonds between our two countries and looked into ways to enhance our collaboration even more."

In a similar vein, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana met with Prime Minister Oli in Bangkok.