With the theme of “Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity” the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit’s 41st session of the Standing Committee began here in the capital Kathmandu of Nepal. Nepal is hosting the summit for the 3rd time which is schedule to start from 26-27 November.

The summit will highlight and discuss the progress report and road map of the SAARC and further explore the possibilities of cooperation among the nations. The meeting would also explore the relations with the nine observer countries and their presence in the SAARC forum .

The Summit is further looked upon issues of railway, road and energy assistance which have been prepared for agreement in the Standing Committee meeting. The meeting will review the implementation of past declarations amid focus on making the presence of SAARC more effective and dynamic.

The meeting is scheduled to include the issues to be presented in the summit. The subjects are not finalized by the standing committee meeting and it would be forwarded to the SAARC Council of Ministers and the Kathmandu Declaration would be finalized on the basis of endorsement made by SAARC Council of Ministers.

The Heads of the Government or State would prepare their views towards the SAARC on the basis of the declaration.