India & Thailand Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership: Key Agreements & Impact

India & Thailand Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership: The two nations agreed to upgrade their relations to that of a strategic partnership with Indian PM Modi saying that both the countries support free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and do believe in the development rather than expansionism.

These remarks made by Modi were during a press briefing with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra after having delegation-level talks during which subjects of bilateral cooperation were widely discussed.

"We have emphasized cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, and education between India's northeastern states and Thailand. We discussed enhancing mutual trade, investment, and exchanges between businesses," Modi said about his talks with Shinawatra.

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Cooperation in MSME, handloom, and handicraft are also on the table as he noted.

He further stated that Thailand occupies a foremost place in the purview of India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision.

"Today, we have decided to elevate our relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership. Discussions were also held on establishing a Strategic Dialogue' between security agencies," Modi said.

He said India firmly supports ASEAN unity and ASEAN Centrality.

"In the Indo-Pacific, we both support a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order. We believe in the policy of vikaasvaad, not vistaarvaad (development-ism, not expansionism)," Modi said.

"I am grateful to the Thai government for issuing a special postage stamp based on the 18th-century Ramayana' mural paintings on the occasion of my visit," he said.

Modi said that Prime Minister Shinawatra gifted him the Tripitaka.

"On behalf of the Buddha-land India, I accepted it with folded hands," he added.

Our centuries-old relationship, Modi observed, is sustained by strong cultural and spiritual bonds. Buddhism interlinked our peoples at all levels, he said.

"There has been an exchange of scholars from Ayutthaya to Nalanda. The tale of the Ramayana is deeply woven into Thai folk life," he said.

"And, the influence of Sanskrit-Pali is still reflected in the languages and traditions today," he said.

Modi also conveyed condolences on behalf of Indians for the loss of lives caused by the earthquake on March 28.

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"We pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured," he said.

Earlier in the day, receiving a Guard of Honour upon arrival for a two-day visit to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, Modi could witness the mesmerising Ramakien – Thai Ramayana performance.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister will be joining leaders of BIMSTEC from Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan to oversee the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Cooperation.

Following the conclusion of the visit to Thailand, he will be making his first visit to Sri Lanka since the election of a new President.

The BIMSTEC summit will bring Modi and Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus and Myanmar military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, among others.

In the departure statement, Modi called BIMSTEC a significant forum for fostering regional development, connectivity, and economic advancement in the last ten years in the Bay of Bengal region.

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