DHAKA, Nov 25: A group of civil society leaders on Thursday observed that inclusion of Afghanistan in Saarc and giving China and Japan the observer status in the forum are the major outcomes of the just-concluded 13th summit of the seven-nation forum.

They made the observations at a roundtable organized by the Dhaka-based Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

The 13th summit of the forum concentrated on issues, including poverty alleviation and funding, economic cooperation, social development, natural disaster and environment challenges, terrorism and external linkage, said Reaz Rahman, a former foreign secretary who presently works as adviser to ministry of foreign affairs.

“In these areas, a conscious effort was made to seek concrete action as well as to focus on regional approach as opposed to national endeavours,” Reaz Rahman told the meeting, which was moderated by Farooq Sobhan, president of the institute.

He said the forum remained a rallying point for South Asia. It is a catalyst and harmonizing force, and is indispensable. “There is no other substitute or replacement of SAARC; it is up to us to awaken its dormant potential.”

Debapriya Bhattacharaya, executive director of a Dhaka-based private sector think tank, said a holistic approach of economic cooperation is needed to make it effective within South Asia.