PM Modi in Thailand: 'India attaches great importance to BIMSTEC'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reached Thailand to attend ASEAN, East Asia, and RCEP summits. The Prime Minister also took to Twitter to inform about his arrival in Thailand and also stated that he is looking forward to interacting with the world leaders and the Indian Community based in the country.

Reached Thailand to take part in the ASEAN related Summits including the India-ASEAN Summit and other programmes. I look forward to interacting with world leaders as well as Thailand’s dynamic Indian community during this visit. pic.twitter.com/tSxEIwZ7el

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

Ahead of co-chairing the 16th ASEAN-India summit with Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an exclusive interview to the Bangkok Post. During his interview, PM Modi spoke about the importance of BIMSTEC and how it fits into the broader Act East Policy. Talking about India's role in the BIMSTECC, Prime Minister Modi explained how India attaches great importance to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

(BIMSTEC HAS five members from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and two from Southeast Asia - Myanmar and Thailand)

READ | PM Modi leaves for 3-day Thailand visit, here's his full statement

Achievements and Developments made by BIMSTEC

While talking about the developments made in the previous BIMSTEC summit which was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, Modi went on to explain how the 4th summit led to a significant push to regional cooperation, and to the strengthening of institutional mechanisms of BIMSTEC, such as mandating the drafting of the BIMSTEC Charter and discussing the possibility for a BIMSTEC Development Fund.

PM Modi also discussed India's participation in the summit, he said, "India actively participated in shaping the outcome of the summit. We have announced many initiatives to be undertaken by India to advance BIMSTEC cooperation and capacity in diverse areas such as security, disaster management, economy and trade, agriculture, health, and digital connectivity, as well as activities to promote cultural and youth linkages. India firmly believes that BIMSTEC is an important part of our Act East Policy." 

In his interview with the Bangkok Post, PM Modi also mentioned the BIMSTEC leaders being invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government in its second term in May. Adding further about the contributions made by Thailand, PM Modi praised Thailand for having made a significant contribution to strengthen cooperation within BIMSTEC.

READ | India has put forward reasonable proposals for RCEP deal: PM Modi

READ | PM Modi embarks on a 3-day visit to Thailand for ASEAN summit

READ | Rami Ranger lauds Indian govt's efforts to spread Sikh teachings