SAARC evolving into new stage of regional cooperation

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Wednes-day said the SAARC was evolving into a new stage of regional cooperation and the forthcoming summit in Colombo will take the "world's largest regional grouping in terms of population" to higher levels of understandings on issues such as energy, food security, and environment. He said this while speaking to the media after his meeting with Dr. Sheel Kanta Sharma, the Secretary General of SAARC, who was on his first visit to Bangladesh after the assumption of his responsibilities. The call by the Secretary General on the Foreign Adviser took place at the Foreign Ministry Wednesday morning. Dr. Sharma praised Bangladesh for conceiving the idea of SAARC and said Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury, who has had a very distinguished and illustrious diplomatic career, and had been involved with the birth of SAARC, was well-placed to render fruitful advice on issues connected with SAARC. Dr. Sharma added he had profited enormously from the meeting. He said his team was committed to a very successful outcome from the forthcoming Colombo Summit.