Kamran Reza Chowdhury reported that the 16th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation will begin in the Bhutanese capital on Wednesday, marking the 25th anniversary of the organization's founding in Dhaka in 1985. Leaders from Afghanistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan will speak at the opening session, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley. The summit will focus on climate change, with discussions centered around the Thimphu declaration. Critics argue that despite 25 years of existence, SAARC has not made significant progress in addressing poverty and improving the lives of the region's 1.5 billion people. The general perception in SAARC member countries is that the organization serves as a platform for annual meetings of top leaders, where they make ambitious promises but struggle to follow through. Bhutanese foreign secretary Daw Penjo explained that the SAARC summit allows South Asian leaders to have private discussions without media and bureaucrats present, which helps improve relations. He also mentioned that the upcoming 16th SAARC summit will focus on creating a 25-year roadmap based on the desires of the region's people. Additionally, SAARC foreign ministers have prepared drafts for two agreements - one on environmental cooperation and the other on trade in services - to be approved during the summit. The council of ministers and standing committee have prepared the Thimphu declaration and Thimphu statement on climate change for the 16th summit. Member states will announce a common SAARC position on climate change, but there will be no legally binding emission cut targets for polluters. Bangladesh proposed including a SAARC charter for democracy in the declaration to promote democracy in all eight countries, according to foreign secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes. All heads of state and government, except Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, have arrived in Thimphu for the summit, with Singh expected to arrive Wednesday morning before the summit begins at 2.30 pm. The summit will also witness the opening of the SAARC Development Fund's headquarters in Thimphu.