PM Modi To Strengthen Regional Ties With Visits To Thailand And Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on official visits to Thailand and Sri Lanka from April 3 to April 6, reaffirming India’s commitment to its regional and global diplomatic strategies.

This will include the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, ‘Act East’ policy, and the ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision for the Indo-Pacific.

PM Modi To Attend BIMSTEC Summit In Thailand

At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, PM Modi will travel to Bangkok from April 3 to April 4 to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

Thailand, the current Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), will host the summit scheduled for April 4.

This marks PM Modi’s third visit to Thailand and will also be the first in-person meeting of BIMSTEC leaders since the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2018.

The 5th BIMSTEC Summit, held virtually in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in March 2022, was conducted remotely due to the pandemic.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders will discuss ways to enhance momentum in BIMSTEC cooperation during the summit.

The theme of the summit is ‘BIMSTEC — Prosperous, Resilient, and Open’.

The MEA stated that discussions would focus on institutional and capacity-building measures to strengthen collaboration across the BIMSTEC framework.

India has actively contributed to BIMSTEC initiatives, promoting regional cooperation in areas such as security, trade, investment, physical and digital connectivity, food and energy security, climate change, and human security.

These efforts have also focused on skill development and strengthening people-to-people ties.

Bilateral Talks With Thai Prime Minister

On April 3, PM Modi will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Shinawatra to review the existing cooperation between the two nations and discuss future collaborations.

India and Thailand share strong civilizational bonds, with deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and religious connections further reinforced by their maritime proximity.

PM Modi’s State Visit To Sri Lanka

After his visit to Thailand, PM Modi will travel to Sri Lanka for a State Visit from April 4 to April 6, following an invitation from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During his visit, PM Modi will engage in high-level talks with President Dissanayake to assess progress on cooperation areas outlined in the Joint Vision for ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’.

This vision was adopted during President Dissanayake’s State Visit to India.

PM Modi’s engagements in Sri Lanka will include meetings with senior dignitaries and political leaders. He will also visit Anuradhapura to inaugurate development projects that India has funded.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties With Sri Lanka

PM Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019. Sri Lankan President Dissanayake had chosen India as his first official foreign destination after assuming office, underscoring the robust bilateral relationship between the two countries.

India and Sri Lanka share a rich history and deep civilizational ties, and this visit aims to strengthen their multifaceted partnership.

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