Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his official visit to Thailand on Thursday to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled for April 4. The visit comes at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
In his departure statement, PM Modi highlighted the crucial role of India’s North Eastern region in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). “Over the past decade, BIMSTEC has emerged as a significant forum for promoting regional development, connectivity, and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region. With its geographical location, India’s North Eastern region lies at the heart of BIMSTEC. I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interest of our people in mind,” he stated.
During the visit, PM Modi is also expected to engage with the Thai leadership. “During my official visit, I will have the opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Shinawatra and the Thai leadership, with a common desire to elevate our age-old historical ties, which are based on the strong foundations of shared culture, philosophy, and spiritual thought,” he added.
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.
In Bangkok later today, I will be meeting Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2025
Sri Lanka Visit and Possible Bangladesh Meeting
Following his participation in the BIMSTEC Summit, the Prime Minister will travel to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6. This visit comes months after Sri Lankan President Disanayaka’s trip to India last December. Speaking about the agenda, PM Modi remarked, “We will have the opportunity to review progress made on the joint vision of ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ and provide further guidance to realise our shared objectives.”
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#WATCH | Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Bangkok, Thailand.
PM Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Thailand at the invitation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. PM Modi will participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to be held on 4 April… pic.twitter.com/8USisO0PNH
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2025
Additionally, there is speculation about a possible meeting between PM Modi and Bangladesh’s Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. If confirmed, this would be the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders since the overthrow of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. A Dhaka-based official told United News of Bangladesh (UNB), “I can tell you that the meeting will take place.” However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet confirmed the meeting.
Expressing optimism about the diplomatic visits, PM Modi concluded, “I am confident that these visits will build on the foundations of the past and contribute to strengthening our close relationships for the benefit of our people and the wider region.”
