June 27, 2015

Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India (EAM) is visiting Thailand from 27-29 June 2015 to co-chair the 7th Meeting of India-Thailand Joint Commission (JCM) and to attend the 16thWorld Sanskrit Conference in Bangkok.

During the visit, EAM is expected to call on the Thai leadership and co-chair the JCM with Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 29 June 2015. The JCM will review the progress of the bilateral relationship in its totality.

EAM is expected to interact with various Indian Associations, business leaders and academics. This is the first high level bilateral visit from India after the formation of new governments in both countries.

During the inaugural ceremony of the 16th World Sanskrit Conference on 28 June 2015, EAM, in her capacity as Guest of Honour, would address the over 600 Sanskrit Scholars from around 60 countries. EAM will call on Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who is the patron of the Conference in Bangkok.

India's excellent relations with Thailand are an important and integral component of India's strategic partnership with ASEAN. India's 'Act East' policy is complemented by Thailand's 'Look West' policy in bringing the two countries closer. Sustained high level bilateral exchanges and regular meetings of bilateral institutional mechanisms have provided a major fillip to India-Thailand relations and achieved progress in key areas of cooperation such as security, defence, commerce, science & technology and education. India and Thailand have strong economic synergies and the diversifying profile of growing bilateral trade and investment reflects the growth and maturity of the two economies. Extensive people-to-people contacts are central to the India-Thailand relationship. In 2014, around 1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand and over 100,000 Thai tourists visited India.

New Delhi
June 27, 2015