Bangkok, April 03: India and Thailand agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thailand’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Government House in Bangkok on Thursday.
The two leaders discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation and witnessed the signing of several key agreements.
A Joint Declaration on the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership was signed.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for cooperation in digital technologies.
Another MoU was signed between India’s Sagarmala Division (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways) and Thailand’s Fine Arts Department (Ministry of Culture) for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat.
India’s National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC) and Thailand’s Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) signed an MoU on MSME cooperation.
Additional MoUs were signed between India’s Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as between India’s North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) and Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA).
PM Modi highlighted that India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy complement each other, opening opportunities for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, trade, investment, MSME, handloom, and handicrafts.
Modi said both nations have agreed to cooperate in renewable energy, digital technology, electric vehicles, robotics, space, biotechnology, and startups.
India and Thailand will work to boost physical connectivity and financial technology (FinTech) connectivity.
The talks focused on strengthening the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership in defence, security, maritime safety, and hydrography.
PM Modi said both nations are committed to tackling terrorism and money laundering together.
Modi expressed solidarity with Thailand following the recent earthquake.
He reiterated India’s support for ASEAN unity and centrality, saying both nations support a free, open, inclusive, and rule-based Indo-Pacific.
“We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism,” PM Modi stated.
