16th SAARC summit

16th SAARC summit
Group photo
Host countryBhutan
Date28–29 April 2010
MottoTowards a Green and Happy South Asia
CitiesThimphu
Participants
  •  Afghanistan
  •  Bangladesh
  •  Bhutan
  •  India
  •  Maldives
  •    Nepal
  •  Pakistan
  •  Sri Lanka
ChairJigme Thinley,
Prime Minister of Bhutan
Follows15th SAARC summit
Precedes17th SAARC summit

The sixteenth summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation took place in Thimphu, Bhutan on 28–29 April 2010. It was the first time that the summit was held in Bhutan since the inception of the organisation in 1985 and also marked the organisation's 25th anniversary. The theme of the summit was "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia". The summit was attended by leaders from all member states and five observer states.

Agenda and outcomes

The theme of the summit was "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia", with a primary focus on climate change, regional connectivity, and development. Following the summit, the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change was adopted, which established an Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to guide regional policy and cooperation. The leaders signed the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment, pledging to plant ten million trees across the region over the next five years to combat deforestation.

The leaders agreed to declare 2010–2020 as the "Decade of Intra-Regional Connectivity". They committed to advancing the South Asian Free Trade Area and signed a Trade in Services Agreement Framework. They also proposed an electricity market roadmap and regional cooperation in renewable and sustainable energy.

The leaders also agreed to operationalise the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) and mainstreamed the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs). They also welcomed the progress on the South Asian University and also proposed a Charter of Democracy and planned a SAARC Parliamentarians Conclave, alongside the establishment of the South Asia Forum.

The leaders also collectively vowed to combat terrorism and transnational crimes, expressing concern over threats to regional peace and economic stability.

At the end of the summit, Australia and Myanmar were admitted as observer countries in the organisation.

Participating leaders

Leaders of member countries

Leaders of observer countries

See also

References

  1. ↑ "General view of the 16th summit of the SAARC in Thimphu". Reuters. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "16th SAARC Summit Declaration (29 April 2010)". mea.gov.in. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "PM meets leaders of SAARC, observer countries". mfa.gov.bt. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Thimphu Declaration on Climate Change" (PDF). saarc-sec.org. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Opening Statement by Prime Minister at the 16th SAARC Summit". mea.gov.in. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "Address by HE President Nasheed at the opening ceremony of the Sixteenth SAARC Summit". presidency.gov.mv. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "Australia attends South Asian summit in Bhutan". dfat.gov.au. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  8. 1 2 "PRESS RELEASE-10". mfa.gov.bt. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Statement by Ms. Chinami Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the Sixteenth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)". www.mofa.go.jp. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Statement by the United States of America at the 16th SAARC Summit". 2009-2017.state.gov. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2026.