‘Stability of international order in question,’ says PM in virtual address at BIMSTEC summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said regional cooperation – specifically among south and south-east Asian countries – had become a priority because the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war had ‘raised questions about the stability of the international order’. He was delivering a virtual address at the BIMSTEC summit chaired by Sri Lanka.

“The recent developments in Europe have raised questions about the stability of the international order. In this context, it has become a greater priority to have regional cooperation,” he told representatives of the seven-nation regional bloc.

“(As) our region faces challenges of health and economic security, the need of the hour is unity and cooperation,” he said, noting India would provide BIMSTEC with $1 million towards its operating budget. “It is important to strengthen the capacity (of the regional alliance)…”

In his address the prime minister also highlighted the importance of agreeing on a FTA, or free trade agreement to ‘increase mutual trade among BIMSTEC nations’.

“The time has come to make the Bay of Bengal the bridge of connectivity, prosperity and security. I call on all BIMSTEC nations to dedicate themselves to working with new enthusiasm to achieve the goals we achieved together in 1997,” PM Modi said.