Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

At the invitation of the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, is paying an official visit to India during 25-28 February 2024. This is Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara’s first official visit to India after assuming office of the Deputy PM and Foreign Minister.

2.​ On 27 February, External Affairs Minister co-chaired the 10th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with Thai Deputy PM and Foreign Minister and hosted a lunch in his honour. During the JCM, the two Ministers reviewed progress in wide-ranging areas of bilateral cooperation, including in defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, science and technology, health, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The two Ministers also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. They expressed commitment to further enhance cooperation in sub-regional, regional and multilateral platforms especially within the framework of ASEAN, BIMSTEC, MGC, ACMECS and IMT-GT.

3.​ The two Ministers expressed their commitment towards strengthening India-Thailand partnership. They also noted a convergence of the Act East Policy of India which is marking its 10th year in 2024, and the Act West Policy of Thailand. External Affairs Minister welcomed Thailand’s decision to co-lead the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Both Ministers reaffirmed their resolve for working together to advance the initiative.

4.​Thai Deputy PM and Foreign Minister expressed appreciation to India for sending the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha together with his two disciples, Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalyayana to Thailand for exposition which will give an opportunity to millions of Thai nationals to pay reverence.

5.​ During the JCM, following documents were signed/exchanged: (i) Agreed Minutes; and (ii) MoU between National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur of the Ministry of Ayush, India and Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand on the Establishment of an Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine.

6.​ During this visit, Thai Deputy PM and Foreign Minister also called on the Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar.

7.​ India-Thailand partnership has expanded to diverse areas of cooperation and come to acquire multi-dimensional facets. The visit of Thai Deputy PM and Foreign Minister to India is part of the on-going high-level exchanges and has contributed to further strengthening of the civilizational bonds between the two friends and maritime neighbours.

New Delhi
February 27, 2024