Thailand has called for enhancing connectivity between India and ASEAN and it sees ASEAN-India relations as a significant factor leading to peace, stability, and dynamism in the rise of the greater East Asia region.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul expressed Thailand’s appreciation for India’s commitment to forging closer links with ASEAN and East Asia during the past 20 years, which is a vital component of India’s “Look East” policy.
He touched on the issue in his statement at the Sixth Meeting of the Thailand–India Joint Commission, held in New Delhi on 27 December 2011. The meeting discussed many issues concerning economy, culture, tourism, security and defense, science and technology, and natural resources and environmental management.
Regarding connectivity issues, both countries discussed cooperation on the construction of the Trilateral Highway project linking India, Myanmar, and Thailand and on the linking of Dawei Deep Sea Port in Myanmar to ports along the Bay of Bengal, Chennai, and the Pak Bara Deep Sea Port project in Thailand’s southern province of Satun.
Foreign Minister Surapong said that Thailand and India should work together to enhance connectivity through bilateral and regional undertakings, such as the Trilateral Highway project and the expanded economic corridor by way of a sea link from the port of Dawei to South Asia. He cited the expanding of Thai-Indian relations as a central part of Thailand’s “Look West” policy.
According to his statement, bilateral trade between the two countries has grown from 4.7 billion US dollars in 2007 to 6.7 billion dollars in 2010. It was expected to reach eight billion dollars by the end of 2011. Around 900,000 Indian tourists visited Thailand in 2011 and Thailand expects this number to reach one million in 2012. On the other hand, the number of Thai tourists to India is currently 60,000 and is also expected to rise substantially in the next few years.
Mr. Surapong pointed out that Thailand and India should plant the seeds of mutual understanding for the next generation of Thais and Indians, by encouraging business and people-to-people interaction, through educational and cultural activities. In this connection, Thailand welcomes the proposal to set up a Thailand–India Foundation. He also called for every effort to conclude the bilateral Free Trade Agreement by mid 2012, as well as the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement. “BIMSTEC” stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has accepted the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit India from 24 to 26 January 2012, when she will attend the Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest. Only one head of state or government is invited to attend this event each year.
Source: http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_inside.php?id=6068