Washington, DC
November 15, 2008
Mr. Chairman,

We are meeting at a time of exceptional difficulty for the world economy. The financial crisis, which a year ago seemed to be localized in one part of the financial system in the US, has exploded into a systemic crisis, spreading through the highly interconnected financial markets of industrialized countries, and has had its effects on other markets also.

13 November 2008,
New Delhi.

We, the Chief Adviser of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, the Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Nepal, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand met in New Delhi, India on November 13, 2008 for the Second BIMSTEC Summit Meeting;

The world’s oldest democracy has completed its traditional process of choosing its new President. The Government and the people of India congratulate Senator Barack Obama who has won the mandate of the American people.