Indian PM meets Thaksin to strengthen India-Thailand ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a significant meeting with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, April 3, sparking discussions aimed at strengthening India-Thailand relations in key areas such as defence, trade, and culture.
Modi, who was in Thailand for a two-day visit to attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit, described the meeting as a “delight” and praised Thaksin’s vast experience in governance and policy-making.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Modi shared photographs from the meeting and a few words.
“It was a delight to meet Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand. He has extensive experience in matters relating to governance and policy making.”
The Indian prime minister acknowledged that Thaksin, who served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006 and is the father of the current Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, had been a long-time “great friend” of India.
Modi also highlighted the close relationship Thaksin had with former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which further strengthened bilateral ties.
The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between the two countries, with both leaders discussing the immense potential for collaboration in sectors like defence, trade, and culture.
Modi emphasised how these discussions would benefit the people of both nations, setting the stage for greater future engagement.
The timing of the meeting is significant, as Modi had just arrived in Thailand earlier that day for the BIMSTEC summit, which brings together seven countries from South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
These countries, dependent on the Bay of Bengal, form a crucial bloc for multi-sectoral cooperation, reported Deccan Herald.
The summit is expected to foster greater collaboration in areas ranging from economic cooperation to technical advancements, with India and Thailand playing central roles.
In similar news, Nepal and Thailand will sign a series of important agreements during Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to Thailand for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit from April 2 to 4.
The visit not only focuses on the summit but also strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries. Senior foreign ministry officials confirmed that multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements will be signed, covering sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and clean energy.
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