External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Thailand on Thursday to participate in the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting, ahead of the 6th BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit.
Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of upcoming discussions. “Thank you FM Maris Sangiampongsa of Thailand for the warm welcome in Bangkok today for the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting. Look forward to productive conversations today ahead of the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit,” he posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Bangkok to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled for Friday, April 4. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed his departure, stating that the visit aims to enhance India’s regional cooperation within BIMSTEC and bilateral relations with Thailand and Sri Lanka.
“PM @narendramodi departs on a visit to Thailand & Sri Lanka. PM will be paying an Official Visit to Thailand & participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Thereafter, he will proceed on a State Visit to Sri Lanka,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
PM Modi highlighted his agenda, which includes:
- Bilateral talks with Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra
- Meeting with King Maha Vajiralongkorn
- Participating in the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit
He stated: “Over the next three days, I will be visiting Thailand and Sri Lanka to take part in various programmes aimed at boosting India’s cooperation with these nations and the BIMSTEC countries.”
Following his engagements in Thailand, PM Modi will travel to Sri Lanka (April 4-6) for a State Visit, at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
This visit is expected to strengthen India-Sri Lanka ties, following President Dissanayake’s recent visit to New Delhi. PM Modi noted: “My visit to Sri Lanka will take place from the 4th till the 6th. This visit comes after the successful visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India. We will review the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka friendship and discuss newer avenues of cooperation.”
The BIMSTEC Summit brings together leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, focusing on regional trade, security, connectivity, and economic cooperation. The theme for this year’s summit is “BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient, and Open.”
With India playing a pivotal role in the BIMSTEC framework, the upcoming discussions are expected to bolster regional integration and cooperation among member nations.
