SAARC Celebrates 40th Charter Day, Emphasizing Regional Cooperation and Solidarity

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) celebrated its 40th Charter Day on Sunday, marking the adoption of its founding Charter on December 8, 1985, at the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka.

In a press release, SAARC announced that leaders from all eight member states—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan—shared special messages emphasizing the significance of regional cooperation, mutual understanding, and solidarity. The leaders underscored SAARC’s vital role in promoting peace, prosperity, and integration in South Asia, a region rich in resources yet facing challenges such as poverty, underdevelopment, and environmental degradation.