The 16th SAARC Summit concluded yesterday (29 April) with the adoption of the Joint Declaration and Thimphu Statement on Climate Change. It was agreed that the 17th Summit of the Heads of State or Government of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will be hosted by the Government of Maldives in 2011.

At the conclusion of the 16th Summit, the SAARC leaders agreed to form a ‘South Asia Forum’, consisting eminent personalities of diverse background from SAARC Member States, for the generation of debate, discussion and the exchange of ideas on South Asia and its future development. They also laid emphasis on effective communications and public diplomacy highlighting the need for more efficient, focused, time-bound and people-centric activities and called for appropriate reflection of all the SAARC decisions into the national policies and programmes of Member States.

The Leaders also recommended the convening of a “Conclave of SAARC Parliamentarians” in line with the SAARC Charter and directed the SAARC Secretariat to convene a Working Group, comprising nominees of the Member States, to workout the modalities for establishment of such a Conclave.

They also called for the expeditious mainstreaming of the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) in the national processes and to act on the findings and recommendations on studies of Regional Poverty Profiles (RPPs). The Government of Nepal is to host the Third Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation in 2011.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to address the challenge of climate change and adopted the ‘Thimphu Statement on Climate Change’. They emphasized that global negotiations on climate change should be guided by the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and should be conducted in an open, transparent and inclusive manner.

The Leaders also welcomed the inauguration and operationalization of the Permanent Secretariat of the SDF including the appointment of its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They urged the importance of projects being funded through SDF are demand-driven, time-bound and aligned with the developmental priorities of the region.

The Joint Declaration also includes cooperation on technology transfer, water management and conservation, environment, agriculture, disaster management, promoting gender equality, child rights and trade.

The full text of the Joint Declaration is accessible at
http://www.sixteenthsaarcsummit.bt/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Summit-Declaration-29-APRIL-FINAL.doc 

The full text of the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change is accessible at
http://www.sixteenthsaarcsummit.bt/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Thimphu-Statement-on-Climate-Change-29-April-FINAL.doc