BIMSTEC retreat begins

KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The Heads of State/Government of the member countries of the Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation have met at Solti Hotel in Tahachal for the retreat that just began where they are likely to hold informal talks.

The venue for the retreat is the premises of Solti Hotel in Tahachal where accommodation for the BIMSTEC guests has been managed. The Heads of State/Government of the member countries are accompanied by their spouses.

BIMSTEC Chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his spouse Radhika Shakya greeted the Heads of State/Government at the venue. Earlier, panchakanya (a group of five young ladies) welcomed the guests by garlanding them.

Breakfast has been managed for the participants. Interpreters are managed for those wishing to deliver their speech in their own mother tongue.

The retreat is also being attended by ministers of external affairs/foreign ministers/state ministers of the BIMSTEC member countries. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali welcomed them. Likewise, Foreign Affair Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi greeted secretaries of ministry of external affairs/foreign ministry of the member countries.

The BIMSTEC VIP and VVIP guests were greeted by playing soothing rhythm of the national anthem of all member countries in the background.

Following the completion of the breakfast, Heads of State/Government are scheduled to take a break for personal dialogues, and they are slated for taking a group photo towards the end of the retreat, said Chief of Protocol Dipak Adhikari. RSS