Japan, China welcome Saarc status

The 13th Saarc Summit decided to include Afghanistan as a new member in the regional body and award China and Japan the observer status.

Both the decisions will however come into effect after the Saarc Council of Ministers ratify it during a meeting in Dhaka after six months.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing said China expressed readiness to cooperate with members of the Saarc to improve reciprocal cooperation and achieve common prosperity.

"China welcomes the successful holding of the 13th Saarc Summit and hopes that the South Asian countries can make more achievements in the process of promoting regional cooperation," he said.

Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement yesterday welcomed the decision of the just concluded 13the Saarc Summit to accord the country an observer status in the regional forum.

"Japan has supported the activities of the grouping through the Japan-Saarc Special Fund, amongst other means, under the premises that Saarc is contributing to regional stability and development in South Asia, which in turn is integral to Asia in its entirety," the statement said.

Japan will coordinate the modalities of its observer status and is committed to strengthen its relations with the Saarc, it added.