The BIMSTEC Summit kicked off with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the earthquakes that struck Myanmar and Thailand, the Thai Enquirer reported.

The sixth BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4, and was chaired by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, it said.

The Thai Prime Minister, who chaired the meeting, expressed her condolences to the victims of the earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand, and a moment of silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the earthquakes, the report added.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of the summit and highlighted key initiatives such as the “Bangkok Vision 2030” and the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Similarly, the Thai Prime Minister called for increased regional cooperation on issues such as human trafficking and cybercrime, and stressed the importance of youth in the future, and announced the formation of the BIMSTEC Economic Advisory Council.

The report further stated that Bangladesh will assume the BIMSTEC Chair after the Sixth BIMSTEC Leaders’ Declaration was adopted.