India today called for comprehensive institutional and structural reforms in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC. Speaking at the 35th meeting of the Foreign Ministers at Bandos Island Resort in Maldives today, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said, there is a need for clearly defining the relations between SAARC and the observer nations. Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar and the US are the nine observer countries to the SAARC. Mr Khurshid added that SAARC needs to add momentum while acknowledging that the overall direction of the regional group has been positive.

Meanwhile, Nepal proposed that the 18th SAARC Summit should be held in Kathmandu in November this year. A final decision on the proposal is yet to be taken.

Earlier, inaugurating the meeting, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom urged the members to play a more active role in the international arena. Foreign ministers of eight member countries are taking part in the meeting that was inaugurated today morning.