By Xinhua,
Colombo : Four agreements aimed at promoting cooperation among South Asian nations were signed Sunday by foreign ministers of the eight SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member countries in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo which is hosting the 15th SAARC summit.
The four agreements were Charter of SAARC Development Funds, Agreement on the Establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization, SAARC Convention Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Protocol on Accession of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area.
The two-day 15th SAARC summit opened Saturday in Colombo with the attending of leader from the eight member countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and seven observers.
The main issues discussed at the summit were poverty alleviation, food security, energy crisis, terrorism and climate change.
The SAARC was established when its charter was formally adopted on Dec. 8, 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
With almost 1.5 billion people, the regional organization provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding.
It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states.