India, Thailand agree to more cooperation on drugs, security

“We recognize that our close security partnership would help us to secure our peoples from these threats”, Modi said.

The prime ministers of India and Thailand have agreed to deepen cooperation in tackling terrorism, cybersecurity, narcotics, transnational economic offenses and human trafficking. Prime Minister Modi received his Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha followed by other foreign dignitaries.

“He will be given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on June 17 morning and thereafter will visit the Rajghat to pay his respects to the Father of the Nation”, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Preeti Saran said.

“India and Thailand have strong economic synergies and the diversifying profile of growing bilateral trade and investment reflects the growth and maturity of the interaction between the two economies”, said MEA.

Modi said both the countries have put on priority the completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway and early signing of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between India, Thailand and Myanmar.

Modi also announced that the Indian Constitution will soon be translated into Thai language. In 2015, more than 1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand and over 100,000 Thai tourists visited India.

To commemorate 70 years of relations with Thailand, Modi said there would be a Festival of Thailand in India and a Festival of India in Thailand.

India and Thailand have agreed to forge a closer partnership in the fields of defence and maritime cooperation, a partnership to meet bilateral interests and to respond to their shared regional goals.

Thailand “expressed an interest in the Indian defence industry and its experience and expertise in the field of defence R&D and production”, the statement said.

The two countries are expected to sign three agreements after Prayuth-Modi talks: an action plan for cultural exchange, academic cooperation between Chiang Mai University and Nagaland University and cooperation between Kasikornbank and Axis Bank. According to the sources, the two countries will issue a joint statement later about the issues brought on board in the delegation talks conducted.

It said that Thailand Prime Minister invited Indian investments under the cluster development policy. Thailand would extend assistance as seen appropriate to make it a success.

The statement said two leaders reiterated their strong support for the reform of the United Nations.

The Prime Minister of Thailand will arrive in New Delhi on 16 June 2016.

Officials said that extensive people-to-people contacts were central to the India-Thailand relationship.

“Thailand is an extremely important partner and the two sides attach a lot of importance to this visit”, India’s Ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Bishnoi told PTI.