Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Thailand on Thursday, April 3, 2025, for a two-day visit to attend the sixth BIMSTEC Summit. He was warmly received at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit. Members of the Indian community, including the Sikh diaspora, greeted him with cultural performances, including Bhangra.
Strengthening India-Thailand Ties
During his visit, Mr. Modi is scheduled to hold extensive discussions with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In a post on X, he expressed his enthusiasm for deepening bilateral cooperation, highlighting India and Thailand’s shared historical and cultural ties.
“Landed in Bangkok, Thailand. Looking forward to participating in the upcoming official engagements and strengthening the bonds of cooperation between India and Thailand,” Mr. Modi posted.
The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, also emphasized the significance of the visit, noting that Thailand and India share deep civilizational bonds and maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
BIMSTEC Summit and Regional Cooperation
Ahead of his departure, Mr. Modi underscored BIMSTEC’s role in regional development, connectivity, and economic progress over the past decade. Given India’s North Eastern region’s strategic location in the Bay of Bengal, he reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening collaboration among BIMSTEC nations.
“I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind,” he said.
Visit to Sri Lanka
Following his engagements in Thailand, Prime Minister Modi will depart for Sri Lanka on April 4 for a two-day visit. This marks his first visit to the island nation since the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s new President.
During his visit, Mr. Modi will review the progress made on the joint vision of ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future,’ an initiative that gained momentum following Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in December 2024.
Expressing optimism about the trip, Mr. Modi stated, “We will have the opportunity to review progress made on the joint vision and provide further guidance to realize our shared objectives.”
The visit aims to build on past collaborations and reinforce India’s strong ties with Sri Lanka for mutual economic and strategic benefits in the region.
