Bhutan to hold maiden SAARC summit in 2010

Bhutan which had skipped the opportunity to host the SAARC summit three times due to its poor infrastructure is all set to host next year's two-day conference, which sees the convergence of all South Asian leaders. The 16th SAARC summit will be held in the nation's capital Thimphu with the tentative dates being April 28 and 29.
    
"It will greatly enhance Bhutan's international image as a sovereign, independent, responsible and equal member country," Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley said. "We are now prepared in terms of the administration, infrastructure and the foreign ministry being ready to host the summit," he added.
     
The summit is also important for Bhutan since it is obligatory for each member state to host the conference. The venue of the next year's summit was Maldives which
has now shifted to the Himalayan nation. Last year's 15th summit was held in Colombo in August 2008.
     
According to Thinley, the meeting would also allow for bilateral meetings with all the leaders of various countries, including India."We will discuss all matters of mutual interest, bilateral matters, relation, review, appraise each other of global and regional issues. It is also like a coming of age for Bhutan," he said.