ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a round table discussion at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) have highlighted the importance of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the region.
The India Study Centre at the ISSI organized a Roundtable Discussion, titled “Prospects and Challenges of Regional Cooperation in South Asia”, said a press release on Tuesday.
Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Golam Sarwar, was the chief guest on the occasion.
Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood delivered welcome remarks.
During the discussion, the significance of SAARC for the region was highlighted by the participants. They noted that SAARC is a people-centric organization.
The speakers said the organization has played an instrumental role in addressing myriad common challenges faced by member states like growing population, food insecurity, natural disasters, and deficient intra-regional trade and connectivity.
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Currently, among other things, the regional organization envisions a ‘SAARC Youth Charter’, which will help promote cultural cooperation among the youth of member countries.
The participants stressed the need for strengthening economic cooperation and trade; improving implementation of SAARC’s decisions and deepening regional integration and connectivity.
The participants shared their views on the progress made by SAARC so far and proposed ways to revive the SAARC process to make it a viable platform for regional cooperation.
They also emphasized the need for resolving long-standing disputes and reducing bilateral tensions to create a conducive environment for regional cooperation.
The event was attended by diplomats, academics, practitioners, and researchers of different Islamabad-based think tanks and Universities.