In this handout photograph released by The Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB) on March 5, 2014, former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (right) speaks with Aung San Suu Kyi, then Myanmar's Chairperson and General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, on the sidelines of the third Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Naypyitaw on March 4, 2014. (Press Information Bureau / AFP)

YANGON - Representatives of seven member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) are gathering here for a two-day meeting to seek cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. 

BIMSTEC groups Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. 

In their discussions which began Wednesday, the representatives touched on topics including evaluation for better cooperation in combating the financing of terrorism, the cyber threat in the financial sector of the regional group, development of human resources to fight the illicit financial flow and preventing financing of terrorism, Myanmar News Agency reported Thursday. 

The ninth meeting also discussed issues on cooperation between international organizations and improving the legal framework of the membership countries. 

In September last year, Myanmar hosted a meeting of BIMSTEC anti-drug trafficking group, focusing on capacity building and technical assistance between the member countries. 

Law enforcement agencies of member states of BIMSTEC have been closely cooperating in combating terrorism and transnational crimes including drug trafficking.