The meeting is intended to forge stronger ties and map out transportation and trade links. Foreign ministers from Bangladesh, Burma, India, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand will attend the meeting.

According to the report, the ministers from the seven Bimstec countries will be discussing methods of cooperation in 13 sectors, including transportation, energy, tourism, terrorism, trade, and investment.

The meeting will also be used to highlight India's proposal to establish a joint weather and climate center, as well as an energy center.

The issues of global climate change and the food and energy crises will also be discussed.

Bimstec, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, was formed by five countries - Thailand, India, Burma, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka - in 1997. Nepal and Bhutan later joined the group as members. - Narinjara News