Key Highlights:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday morning, beginning a significant diplomatic mission to strengthen India’s regional partnerships through participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, followed by a State Visit to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6.
The visit reaffirms India’s commitment to deepening its engagement with BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) nations and positions India at the forefront of regional strategic cooperation.
PM @narendramodi departs on a visit to Thailand & Sri Lanka.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 3, 2025
PM will be paying an Official Visit to Thailand & participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit. Thereafter, he will proceed on a State Visit to Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/xhKqeXQuhJ
Official Schedule and High-Level Meetings in Thailand
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, PM Modi will participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit hosted by Thailand, which is currently chairing the grouping. This is PM Modi’s third visit to Thailand and comes at a time when regional unity and strategic collaboration are more crucial than ever.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister stated:
“Over the next three days, I will be visiting Thailand and Sri Lanka to take part in various programmes aimed at boosting India’s cooperation with these nations and the BIMSTEC countries.”
Over the next three days, I will be visiting Thailand and Sri Lanka to take part in various programmes aimed at boosting India's cooperation with these nations and the BIMSTEC countries.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2025
In Bangkok later today, I will be meeting Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and…
Key engagements in Thailand include:
- A bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to review and enhance strategic ties.
- A ceremonial audience with King Maha Vajiralongkorn, underlining India’s respect for Thailand’s monarchy and historic ties.
- Active participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to be held on April 4 in Bangkok.
This summit marks the first in-person meeting of BIMSTEC Leaders since 2018, making it a milestone for regional diplomacy. The 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo in 2022 took place in virtual format amid the pandemic.
The Theme and Vision of BIMSTEC 2025
The 6th BIMSTEC Summit carries the theme:
“BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient and Open”, reflecting the need for inclusive and sustainable development.
The Leaders are expected to focus on:
- Strengthening regional connectivity: including physical, maritime, and digital corridors.
- Enhancing trade and investment: aiming to reduce intra-regional trade barriers.
- Security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
- Food and energy security, with a sharp lens on climate resilience.
- Skill development and capacity building across member nations.
- Boosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
India has taken the lead in driving initiatives in these domains, leveraging its growing regional influence to uplift BIMSTEC as a robust regional body that transcends traditional diplomacy.
India and Thailand: A Maritime and Cultural Partnership
India and Thailand share deep-rooted civilizational ties, with Buddhism forming a spiritual bridge between the two nations. The bilateral relationship has been elevated in recent years with an emphasis on strategic and economic cooperation.
PM Modi’s meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will focus on:
- Expanding maritime security collaboration in the Bay of Bengal.
- Strengthening bilateral trade frameworks.
- Launching joint projects in technology, tourism, and education.
- Deepening cooperation under the India-ASEAN strategic umbrella.
This leg of the visit also carries symbolic significance, given the longstanding friendship between the two countries rooted in shared culture, history, and strategic interests.
From Thailand to Sri Lanka: Reinforcing Ties in the Indian Ocean
From April 4 to 6, PM Modi will embark on a State Visit to Sri Lanka, responding to an invitation by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This follows President Dissanayake’s visit to India earlier this year and signals continuity in mutual diplomatic engagements.
The Sri Lanka visit will focus on:
- Reviewing ongoing Indian infrastructure and development projects in Sri Lanka.
- Exploring new avenues for economic and cultural cooperation.
- Discussing energy and port connectivity, particularly around Trincomalee and the Eastern Economic Corridor.
- Reaffirming India’s support for Sri Lanka’s post-crisis economic recovery.
PM Modi remarked:
“We will review the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka friendship and discuss newer avenues of cooperation. I look forward to the various meetings there.”
His itinerary is expected to include interactions with Sri Lankan business leaders, cultural institutions, and community representatives, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to diplomacy.
BIMSTEC’s Growing Significance for India
BIMSTEC comprises seven countries – India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – collectively representing 22% of the world’s population. It is emerging as a strategic counterbalance to other regional groupings like SAARC and ASEAN.
India has taken proactive steps to shape the BIMSTEC agenda by:
- Proposing the BIMSTEC Master Plan on Transport Connectivity.
- Leading the Security and Counter-Terrorism pillar.
- Funding the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo.
- Promoting cooperation in Disaster Risk Management and Maritime Security.
With this summit, India aims to further institutionalize BIMSTEC, allowing it to serve as a resilient mechanism for regional growth amid shifting geopolitical landscapes.
Regional and Strategic Implications
PM Modi’s twin visits to Thailand and Sri Lanka send a strong message of India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies in action. As global geopolitics sees increasing regionalism and economic bloc-building, India’s presence in the Bay of Bengal region becomes all the more crucial.
With increasing Chinese influence in the region, especially in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, India’s proactive diplomacy through regional groupings and bilateral ties aims to maintain strategic stability and ensure developmental partnerships that are equitable and sustainable.
PM Modi BIMSTEC Summit 2025 Visit Is a Strategic Milestone
The PM Modi BIMSTEC Summit 2025 visit, complemented by strategic engagements in Thailand and Sri Lanka, marks a crucial milestone in India’s foreign policy trajectory. Through carefully planned bilateral and multilateral dialogues, India is not only reinforcing old alliances but also scripting a visionary roadmap for South and Southeast Asia.
As the Summit unfolds and PM Modi meets with regional leaders, the outcomes are expected to have far-reaching impacts on connectivity, economic cooperation, and geopolitical alignments in the Indo-Pacific.
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