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BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey visited Myanmar and discussed progress in regional security cooperation under BIMSTEC to address the transnational security challenges facing the member states.
The two sides reviewed progress in regional security cooperation since the 4th BIMSTEC National Security Advisers’ Meeting, hosted by Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw in July 2024, and preparations for the 5th meeting, which will be hosted by India.
The meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 16.
They also welcomed the opportunity provided by the forthcoming inaugural BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting to review and expand regional security cooperation under BIMSTEC.
During the visit, the BIMSTEC Secretary General called on Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, who reiterated Myanmar’s abiding commitment to expanding regional cooperation under BIMSTEC, underscored the organisation’s non-political character, and expressed Myanmar’s desire to enhance its contribution to BIMSTEC’s success.
He met Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe and their discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation under BIMSTEC and Myanmar’s vital role in advancing cooperation in the agriculture and food security, fisheries, and livestock sectors, which the country leads, as well as other sectors on BIMSTEC’s agenda, according to the BIMSTEC Secretariat.
The Myanmar Foreign Minister reiterated the high importance Myanmar attaches to BIMSTEC.
In a separate meeting with Home Minister Lt Gen Nyunt Win Swe, the two sides discussed progress in regional security cooperation.
The Secretary General also called on National Security Adviser and Union Minister in the President’s Office Tin Aung San.
They underscored Myanmar’s vital role in ensuring regional security in the Bay of Bengal, including combating organised crime and terrorism, as well as strengthening maritime security, food security, climate security, and energy security.
The Secretary General also met Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Min Naung.
Their discussions focused on advancing regional cooperation in the agriculture and food security, fisheries, and livestock sectors, including the implementation of decisions taken at the 3rd BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting, held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in April 2025, and ways to further strengthen regional cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors under BIMSTEC.
The Secretary General also attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the Permanent Secretary of Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The dinner was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.
The Secretary General also met Thant Kyaw, Chairman of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS), and the two sides exchanged views on further strengthening regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework.
Myanmar is one of the seven BIMSTEC member states and leads regional cooperation in the agriculture and food security, fisheries, and livestock sectors. It joined BIMSTEC in December 1997.
BIMSTEC comprises seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.