BIMSTEC summit: Retreat organised for member countries’ leaders
A retreat was organised for the leaders of six BIMSTEC member countries at Soaltee Hotel on the last day of BIMSTEC summit on Friday.
The government had earlier planned to organise the retreat programme at the Gokarna Resort. However, since the authorities failed to upgrade the Chabahil-Jorpati-Gokarna road section in time owing to rains the retreat venue was shifted.
Officials at the Foreign Ministry have said that the retreat could not be organised outside the summit venue owing to technical reasons.
According to RSS, leaders of all seven BIMSTEC member countries and their spouses are present in the retreat programmes being held at the swimming pool area of the Tahachal-based Soaltee Hotel.
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.