PM Modi meets Thailand PM, enhance strategic ties ahead of BIMSTEC Summit

New Delhi, Apr 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Thailand on Thursday afternoon, reaffirmed India’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and regional cooperation ahead of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. PM Modi was given a rousing reception on his arrival. In a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Modi emphasised the historical and strategic significance of India- Thailand ties, describing them as deeply rooted in shared culture and spiritual traditions. “I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shinawatra for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me and my delegation in this beautiful golden land,” Modi stated, acknowledging Thailand’s long-standing cultural and historical links with India.

“The centuries-old ties between India and Thailand are linked by our deep cultural and spiritual threads. The spread of Buddhism has connected our people. There has been an exchange of scholars from Ayutthaya to Nalanda. The story of Ramayana is deeply rooted in Thai folk life, and the influence of Sanskrit-Pali is still visible in languages and traditions today,” PM Modi said.

The leaders discussed avenues to elevate the India- Thailand relationship to a strategic partnership. “Had a very fruitful meeting with Prime Minister Shinawatra in Bangkok a short while ago,” Modi said. “India’s ‘Act East’ and Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policies complement each other extremely well and open several possibilities for bilateral cooperation.”

Their discussions covered a broad spectrum of areas, including defence, security, maritime safety, and hydrography. “We reiterated our commitment to working together to overcome the challenges of terrorism, money laundering, and more,” Modi remarked.

Economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks, with both leaders keen on expanding trade and investment. “India and Thailand are eager to enhance economic and trade ties. “PM Shinawatra and I talked about our nations working closely in agriculture, MSME, shipping, FinTech, and space. Cultural linkages also featured prominently in the talks,” Modi said in a statement on X.

A particularly symbolic gesture highlights the visit’s cultural significance, as Thailand issued a special postage stamp based on 18th-century ‘Ramayana’ mural paintings to commemorate Modi’s visit. Expressing his gratitude, he said, “I am grateful to the Government of Thailand for issuing a special postage stamp. Prime Minister Shinawatra just presented me with the Tripitaka. On behalf of Buddha-land India, I accepted it with folded hands.”

Reflecting on regional cooperation, Modi highlighted India’s commitment to BIMSTEC, describing it as a crucial link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. “Over the past decade, BIMSTEC has emerged as a significant forum for promoting regional development, connectivity, and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region. With its geographical location, India’s North Eastern region lies at the heart of BIMSTEC,” he said.

India has been an active participant in BIMSTEC, hosting the Outreach Summit and Leaders’ Retreat in Goa in 2016. As Modi prepares to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit on Friday, he reiterated India’s unwavering support for ASEAN unity and a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific order. “India-ASEAN unity and ASEAN Centrality—we completely support it. We both support an Indo-Pacific free, open, inclusive, and rule-based order. We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism,” Modi affirmed.

Modi will also call on Maha Vajiralongkorn, the King of Thailand, to strengthen diplomatic relations further. Following his engagements in Thailand, he will travel to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6. This follows the visit of President Disanayaka to India last December. “We will have the opportunity to review progress made on the joint vision of ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ and provide further guidance to realise our shared objectives,” he noted.

Modi expressed confidence in the outcomes of his visits. “I am confident that these visits will build on the foundations of the past and contribute to strengthening our close relationships for the benefit of our people and the wider region,” he stated.

With India’s growing role in regional diplomacy and economic cooperation, Modi’s visit to Thailand and participation in the BIMSTEC Summit signal New Delhi’s continued push for stronger regional partnerships, look east policy and shared prosperity.