18th SAARC summit

June 2025 18th SAARC summit १८औं सार्क शिखर सम्मेलन Held in Kathmandu NEP Nepal Kathmandu National Assembly Hall (राष्ट्रिय सभा गृह) 26–27 November 2014 ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity’ Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India The eighteenth summit of 'South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation' (SAARC) was held in Kathmandu, the capital of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal during 26–27 November 2014. The theme of the summit was Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity, focused on enhancing connectivity between the member states for easier transit-transport across the region. Sushil Koirala, the then Nepalese prime minister, was the main host of the event which took place in Rastriya Sabha Griha Kathmandu, Nepal to host 18th SAARC Summit in November 2014 http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/02/kathmandu-nepal-to-host-18th-saarc-summit-this-year/ IANS news.biharprabha.com 20 February 2014 The summit took place after an interval of three years as the previous summit was held in 2011 in Maldives.June 2025 Background On 26 May 2014, head of state/head of government of all SAARC nations attended the Swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi in New Delhi and the following day they have held high level discussion with the newly appointed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was dubbed as the mini SAARC summit in the media.http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140601/editorial/the-mini-saarc-summit-100977.html The mini SAARC summit The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) 1 June 2014 3 November 2014 There it was agreed to revitalize the SAARC initiative and a summit was agreed upon in Nepal at the earliest.http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/11/01/nepal-think-tank-foresees-average-saarc-summit Nepal think-tank foresees 'average' SAARC summit bdnews24.com 1 November 2014 3 November 2014 Started on November 26, the two-day SAARC Summit was the 18th session of the multilateral organisation. times of India Participants The following heads of state/heads of government of the eight member countries participated in the summit in Kathmandu. SAARC members Member Represented by Title Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani President BAN Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister BHU Bhutan Tshering Tobgay Prime Minister IND India Narendra Modi Prime Minister MDV Maldives Abdulla Yameen President NPL Nepal Sushil Koirala Prime Minister PAK Pakistan Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister SRI Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa President Agenda Foreign Ministers of the eight member states signed an agreement on energy cooperation namely 'SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)' in the presence of their heads of state and government during the concluding ceremony of the 18th SAARC Summit on 27 November. Although Pakistan stalled, citing insufficient internal preparations, signing of two other agreements on Vehicular Traffic and Railways respectively. Although Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, current SAARC Chair, expressed his hope that the 'Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst SAARC Member States', and 'SAARC Regional Agreement on Railways' would be signed later after the Transport Ministers of these countries reviewed them. It was also decided that Pakistan will host the next summit in 2016.https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/SAARC-leaders-reach-energy-deal/article60317867.ece SAARC leaders reach last-minute energy deal The Hindu 27 November 2014 27 November 2014 The India-Pakistan stand-off on the first day threatened to jeopardize the entire summit process as Pakistan seemed to be in the mood to block every Indian led proposal. But the next day things have changed when the two prime ministers met privately at the retreat session which led to Pakistan agreeing one out of three proposed agreements and they also met and shook hands publicly during the closing ceremony and this 'transient peace' in the relation was believed to brokered by the Nepalese side as a face-saving measure for the Kathmandu summit.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepal-played-key-role-in-narendra-modi-nawaz-sharif-handshake/articleshow/45300842.cms Nepal played key role in Narendra Modi-Nawaz Sharif handshake The Economic Times 27 November 2014 27 November 2014 China, which holds an observer status in the group, was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin seen actively promoting a more active role for itself in the region including infrastructure funding through its proposed 'Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank' (AIIB) and extending its ambitious Maritime Silk Road project to South Asian nations. Pakistan, China's all weather friend, also vouched for a more participatory role for the observer nations in the summit process, indirectly advocating for a more Chinese involvement. Although no such proposal was accepted because of India's reservation.https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/china-makes-inroads-into-indias-backyard/ China Makes Inroads Into India's Backyard The Diplomat 27 November 2014 27 November 2014 Aftermath Declaration of 18th SAARC Summit With the ongoing cold relationships between India and Pakistan, the formal handshake between the prime ministers from both the countries caught a lot of attention and was applauded by everyone in the Summit Hall. In this way the 18th SAARC summit was over http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/after-chill-the-thaw-handshake-but-no-talks/ SAARC summit: PM Narendra Modi, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif shake hands, but no talks The Indian Express 28 November 2014 28 November 2014 Gallery of participating leaders See also Nepal India Pakistan Politics List of SAARC summits Declaration of 18th SAARC Summit SAARC satellite References External links http://www.saarc-sec.org/SAARC-Summit/7/ Category:South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summits Category:2014 in international relations Category:2014 in Nepal Category:Kathmandu Category:21st century in Kathmandu Category:2014 diplomatic conferences Category:History of Nepal (2008–present) Category:Foreign relations of Nepal Category:Organized events in Nepal Category:Political history of Nepal