Kathmandu: Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, participated in the Sixth Edition of the India–Japan Intellectual Conclave “Kizuna” held in Shillong from February 26–27, 2026.

The conclave was organized by Asian Confluence in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Addressing a panel discussion on “Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) and Collaborations in the Bay of Bengal,” Secretary General Pandey highlighted the importance of BIMSTEC in strengthening regional cooperation among member states and with external partners such as Japan.

He emphasized Japan’s continued interest in enhancing cooperation in South and Southeast Asia and underlined BIMSTEC’s growing role in promoting connectivity and collaboration in the Bay of Bengal region.