Bangkok: At the BIMSTEC conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to make important declarations reaffirming India’s commitment to advancing regional cooperation.

As BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey told ANI in Thailand, “PM will address BIMSTEC. We are looking forward to the Prime Minister’s address, and I’m sure there will be announcements and declarations by the Prime Minister to reinforce India’s role in strengthening regional cooperation through BIMSTEC”.

Pandey expressed confidence about the summit’s results, which include the signing of the agreement on marine transport cooperation, the approval of the Bangkok Vision 2030, and the eminent people group report, and commended Thailand for hosting it in spite of the recent earthquake.

It’s excellent that Thailand has chosen to host the summit despite the difficulties it has endured as a result of the earthquake. In addition to the summit declaration, the adoption of the Bangkok Vision 2030, the eminent persons group, our rules of procedure, and the additional signing of the agreement on maritime transport cooperation, we anticipate a very successful summit with significant outcomes,” the Secretary General stated.

India and Thailand have a long history of collaboration as founding members of BIMSTEC. By convening a retreat for BIMSTEC leaders in 2016, PM Modi has played a significant role in advancing the BIMSTEC agenda.

It is anticipated that the recent bilateral meeting between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Prime Minister Modi would further solidify the “spirit of cooperation” between the two countries.

“From an Indian perspective, India has always been a key player in advancing the regional cooperation agenda of BIMSTEC. On the fringes of the BRICS conference in 2016, PM Modi convened a retreat of BIMSTEC leaders, a historic event that advanced the regional cooperation agenda, according to Pandey.

Regarding the recent bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Secretary-General said that it would contribute to the strengthening of the “spirit of cooperation.”

“In terms of bilateral relations. India and the member nations have had a great bilateral relationship.” And I’m sure that the Prime Minister’s upcoming bilateral will help to further strengthen the spirit of cooperation as well as India’s bilateral relations with other member states,” he added.

With Bangladesh taking over as the next chair of the BIMSTEC summit, the two countries’ bilateral ties are also expected to strengthen. Bangladesh is projected to play a significant role in regional cooperation, especially in commerce, investment, and development, as the home of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka and a founding member.

“The next chair, which will be held the day after tomorrow, will be Bangladesh. One of the original members is Bangladesh. We are eager to work closely with the Bangladeshi government since it also houses the Secretariat in Dhaka.” Regional cooperation in the trade, investment, and development sectors as well as the blue economy will also be led in advancing the agenda for regional cooperation in Bangladesh,” the BIMSTEC Secretary General said.

PM Modi had already said that India would transfer relics of Lord Buddha, found in Gujarat’s Aravalli in the 1960s, to Thailand so that devotees might pay their respects. This was a huge cultural gesture.
“I am happy to announce that the holy relics of Lord Buddha, which were found in Gujarat’s Aravalli in 1960, will also be sent to Thailand for darshan,” PM Modi said.

These artifacts were discovered in Devni Mori, which has the remnants of a Buddhist monastery from the third to fourth centuries AD, according to the Gujarat Tourism website.

PM Modi elaborated on the two nations’ cultural relations by mentioning how last year India transferred Lord Buddha’s relics to Thailand. “Holy relics of Lord Buddha were sent from India to Thailand last year,” he claimed. That more than 4 million devotees were given the chance to have a darshan is a source of immense happiness.

This action demonstrates the close cultural links that exist between Thailand and India. Last year, more than 4 million devotees got the chance to see Lord Buddha’s relics in Thailand, according to PM Modi.

With the theme “Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC,” the 6th BIMSTEC Summit will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4, 2025. It seeks to support the Bangkok Vision 2030 and strengthen regional cooperation in the areas of connectivity, security, and commerce.