KATHMANDU: The 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit has kicked off in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal on Wednesday.

The Summit was inaugurated by Maldives’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom at 8:30am (local time).

At the outset, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom handed over the SAARC chair to Nepal Prime Minister Sudhil Koirala, who would bear the responsibility till the next Summit.

Earlier in the day, all the heads of state or government from eight South Asian countries and representatives of nine observers reached at City Hall of Rastriya Sabha Griha, the conference building of the Summit, by 8:00am.

This is the third time that Nepal is hosting SAARC Summit after January 2002 and November 1987.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will address the opening session.

Nine observers from China, US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Iran and European Union also attended the Summit.

** Hasina-Modi meeting at 3.30pm

BDST: 1032 HRS, NOV 26, 2014