Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Thailand’s Prime Minister H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra during his official visit to Bangkok, marking their second meeting after their previous encounter at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane in October 2024. Upon arrival, Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Government House, where the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including political exchanges, defense, trade, and people-to-people ties. They emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity, health, technology, innovation, education, and tourism, while addressing transnational organized crimes such as human trafficking and cyber scams.
The leaders exchanged views on global issues and discussed deepening collaboration in regional and multilateral platforms like BIMSTEC, ASEAN, and Mekong Ganga Cooperation. They signed a Joint Declaration to establish the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership and exchanged Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) focusing on handlooms, digital technologies, MSMEs, and maritime heritage. Additionally, the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue was announced to facilitate stronger people-to-people contacts.
In a gesture of goodwill, the Thai government issued a special postage stamp commemorating Modi’s visit, and Shinawatra presented him with a special edition of Buddhist scriptures. Modi offered to send Lord Buddha’s Relics from Gujarat to Thailand, further enhancing the cultural and civilizational ties between the two nations. The longstanding relationship is foundational to India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, aiming to strengthen connections in the Indo-Pacific region.