The two-day 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has started in Kathmandu, today, with an agenda to improve connectivity among member states for boosting trade, collectively fighting the poverty and illiteracy. The theme of the summit is 'Deeper Regional Integration for Peace and Prosperity'. The inaugural session was formally inaugurated by Nepal Prime Minister Mr. Sushil Koirala in the presence of all heads of government from seven other member countries. The outgoing Chairperson of SAARC, President of Maldives, Mr. Abdulla Yameen handed over the chairmanship of the present SAARC Summit to Mr. Koirala. The Summit is going on as heads of government of member nations are addressing it.