Saturday, November 12 2005 13:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Pakistan today (Nov 12, 2005) supported bids by Afghanistan and China for the seven-member SAARC grouping.

Inaugurating the 13th SAARC Summit here, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Afghanistan has applied for membership of SAARC and China for dialogue partner or an observer status in the South Asian grouping.

These requests have been circulated to the member countries through the SAARC Secretariat, he said, adding, Pakistan looked forward to their association.

Speaking after Aziz, Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia described the SAARC Summit as a 'window of opportunity' to consolidate the gains and to prepare a blueprint for the region's future growth.

"Today, in our region, there is a growing sense of confidence of identity," she said, pointing out the South Asian region made up one-fifth of the world's population and described it as an economic giant with unlimited potential.

"It is in this backdrop that we must chart the direction for the future," Zia remarked as she underlined need for stepping up efforts toward poverty alleviation.

Zia also suggested the observance of the decade 2006-2015 as a decade for poverty alleviation and stressed that modalities be worked out soon for the setting up of a Fund for the purpose.

She also sought a mid-term review of the progress made in the implementation of programmes for the Rights of the Child decade, being observed from 2001 to 2010 and suggested ratification of the SAARC Conventions on trafficking of women and children and on child welfare.

The Bangladesh Premier called for expansion in air services within the nations of the region, besides simplification of visa procedures.

She said that there was a need for holding a SAARC Business Summit, preceding every SAARC summit, for business leaders and top officials of the respective Reserve Banks to interact and draw up plans.