Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​A regional revival: On the BIMSTEC summit

​A regional revival: On the BIMSTEC summit

BIMSTEC summit provided a platform for bilateral meetings

Last week’s Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit — the sixth — which brought the leaders of seven neighbouring countries to Bangkok at a time of global turbulence (अशांति, उथल-पुथल), was an opportunity to reignite (To start again or renew (especially feelings or conflicts)) the regional grouping after years of stasis. Originally cast as a “bridging” mechanism between South Asia’s SAARC and South East Asia’s ASEAN countries, the grouping has languished (कमज़ोर होना) due to a lack of purpose or due to political underpinnings (आधार, बुनियाद). After the collapse of India-Pakistan ties, post-2014, SAARC has made little movement, whereas the micro-grouping of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal ran aground after the Bhutanese Parliament rejected the Motor Vehicles Agreement between them, as a result of which New Delhi has invested in BIMSTEC. While the objective of having a summit every two years was derailed (पटरी से उतारना, दिशा भटकाना) by the COVID-19 pandemic, what is important is that the summit was held in spite of a possible derailment after the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. But the summit proved useful, given the number of agreements and areas of cooperation. These include a BIMSTEC chamber of commerce and work on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway that will connect India’s North-East region, billed a BIMSTEC “hub”, all the way to the Pacific ocean. The BIMSTEC region is prone to natural disasters and building a joint mechanism for disaster management is critical. Negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) and Customs agreements are among other plans outlined in a ‘Vision 2030’ document that was adopted.

Apart from the multilateral (बहुपक्षीय) outcomes, the summit provided the leaders a rare opportunity for bilateral meetings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus put aside months of acrimony (कटुता, तीखापन, रूखापन) and aired their grievances over the treatment of minorities, border killings and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. Mr. Modi’s advice that “rhetoric” must be avoided between neighbours is important, but must be followed in Dhaka and Delhi. Mr. Modi’s meeting with Nepal leader K.P. Sharma Oli came after months of tensions over India’s refusal to issue Mr. Oli an invite, and it is hoped that these exchanges will lead to an early visit and the resolution of issues. The inclusion of Myanmar’s Prime Minister General Min Aung Hlaing was a special gesture (इशारा, संकेत) by the BIMSTEC grouping, and it is hoped that Mr. Modi’s counsel (सलाह) to Gen. Min and Mr. Yunus on restoring democratic processes in Myanmar and Bangladesh will be heeded. While the summit was productive, many of its initiatives are replicas (प्रतिकृति, अनुकृति) of agreements once adopted by SAARC, and it is important that member-states focus on the group’s cohesion (एकजुटता, जुड़ाव) and sustainability so that BIMSTEC is not allowed to atrophy (Gradual decline in effectiveness or ability due to underuse or neglect) the same way as SAARC did.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Turbulence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - अशांति, उथल-पुथल
English Meaning - A state of confusion, disorder, or instability.

2.Languish (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - कमज़ोर होना
English Meaning - To become weak or suffer from being neglected.

3.Underpinning (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - आधार, बुनियाद
English Meaning - A foundation or basic support for something.

4.Derail (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - पटरी से उतारना, दिशा भटकाना
English Meaning - To cause to go off course or fail.

5.Multilateral (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बहुपक्षीय
English Meaning - Involving more than two groups, nations, or parties.

6.Acrimony (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - कटुता, तीखापन, रूखापन
English Meaning - Bitterness or harshness in speech or behavior.

7.Gesture (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - इशारा, संकेत
English Meaning - A movement or action showing an idea, intention, or feeling.

8.Replica (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिकृति, अनुकृति
English Meaning - An exact copy or model of something.

9.Cohesion (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकजुटता, जुड़ाव
English Meaning - The action or fact of forming a united whole.

10.Counsel (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सलाह
English Meaning - Advice given formally; a legal advisor.

11.Reignite (Verb)

English Meaning - To start again or renew (especially feelings or conflicts).

12.Atrophy (Noun)

English Meaning - Gradual decline in effectiveness or ability due to underuse or neglect.