Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake official tours of Thailand and Sri Lanka between April 3 and April 6, reaffirming India's commitment to both its Neighbourhood First and Act East strategies, as well as its MAHASAGAR vision and wider Indo-Pacific approach.
PM Modi will travel to Bangkok from April 3-4 at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit hosted by Thailand on April 4 as the BIMSTEC Chair. It will be his third visit to Thailand and the first in-person BIMSTEC Leaders' meeting after the 4th Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2018. The previous summit, which was conducted in March 2022, was virtually held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the leaders will seek ways to provide new momentum to BIMSTEC cooperation. The theme of the summit, "BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient, and Open," indicates an emphasis on deepening institutional arrangements and capacity building within the regional grouping.
"India has taken a number of steps to enhance BIMSTEC cooperation, such as on strengthening security, increasing trade and investment, developing physical, maritime, and digital connectivity, and food, energy, climate, and human security cooperation. Initiatives are also being taken to boost skill development and enhance people-to-people contacts," the MEA statement added.
During his visit to Thailand, PM Modi will also meet Prime Minister Shinawatra on April 3, in which the two will discuss existing partnerships and possible new areas for collaboration. India and Thailand have robust historical relationships, based on cultural, linguistic, and religious bonds, supplemented by their physical closeness.
After his interactions in Thailand, PM Modi will go on a State Visit to Sri Lanka from April 4-6 at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
On this visit, he will visit President Dissanayake in order to judge the pace in main areas of cooperation listed out under the Joint Vision for Enhancing Partnerships for a Collective Future, agreed to on Sri Lanka's then President's tour to India. He will attend meetings with important Sri Lankan political leaders and representatives.
As part of his tour schedule, PM Modi will also visit Anuradhapura, where he would be opening up development projects funded by Indian financial support. This is his first visit to Sri Lanka since 2019. It is interesting to note that President Dissanayake had opted for India as his first official foreign visit after taking charge, reflecting the extremely good diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
India and Sri Lanka share deep-rooted historical and civilisational links, and this visit is expected to further strengthen their multi-dimensional partnership. The MEA emphasized the significance of PM Modi’s visit, stating, "His participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and his official visits to Thailand and Sri Lanka reaffirm India’s steadfast commitment to regional cooperation under the Neighbourhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR policies, along with its broader Indo-Pacific vision."
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