Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to Strengthen Bilateral Ties.
BANGKOK:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra today in Bangkok during his official visit to the country. The meeting, which marks their second encounter, took place at the Government House, where Prime Minister Modi was warmly welcomed with a ceremonial reception. The two leaders had previously met on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related Summit in Vientiane, Laos, in October 2024.
During their discussions, the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation between India and Thailand, emphasizing areas where they can further strengthen collaboration. Key focus areas included political exchanges, defence and security partnerships, strategic engagement, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. Both leaders stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in several fields, such as connectivity, health, science and technology, innovation, digital advancements, education, culture, and tourism.
A significant portion of the discussions revolved around countering transnational organized crime, including human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and cyber scams, with both nations agreeing to work closely on these pressing issues. In addition to bilateral matters, the two leaders also shared perspectives on global issues, reaffirming their commitment to closer cooperation in sub-regional, regional, and multilateral forums such as BIMSTEC, ASEAN, and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation initiative.
A major highlight of the meeting was the exchange of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of an India-Thailand Strategic Partnership, which formalizes the growing collaboration between the two countries. Further strengthening ties, both leaders witnessed the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in key areas such as handlooms and handicrafts, digital technologies, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and maritime heritage. They also welcomed the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue, aimed at improving people-to-people interactions between the two nations.
As a symbol of goodwill, the Thai government released a special postage stamp featuring 18th-century Ramayana mural paintings to commemorate Prime Minister Modi’s visit. In a gesture highlighting the close cultural and religious ties between India and Thailand, Prime Minister Shinawatra presented Prime Minister Modi with a special edition of the Buddhist holy scriptures, TI-PITAKA, in Pali.
Further emphasizing the deep-rooted cultural bonds, Prime Minister Modi offered to send Lord Buddha’s relics excavated from Gujarat to Thailand for the public to pay their respects. This follows the successful journey of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and two of his disciples last year, which were visited by over 4 million people in Thailand.
India and Thailand share a rich civilizational history, with deep cultural, linguistic, and religious connections, particularly through the Ramayana and Buddhism. Their strong relationship forms a crucial part of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, and the broader vision for the Indo-Pacific region. With sustained engagement, the two nations continue to build on their age-old ties to ensure a robust and multifaceted partnership moving forward.
