BANGKOK, June 15: India and Thailand are set to firm up
cooperation to combat terrorism, and boost maritime security, defence ties and
trade during Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha's maiden visit to
India, officials said today.
The Thai premier will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his
three-day visit beginning tomorrow.
The two countries will issue a joint statement later, expressing their
expectations to increase maritime security, double trade in five years, push
the India-Myanmar-Thai road project, cooperate in civil aviation, fight
cybercrime and promote people-to-people cooperation, said Maj-General Werachon
Sukondhapatipak, a deputy Thai government spokesman.
Werachon said talks with India will focus on issues such as trade, support for
Thai agricultural products and cooperation on education and tourism.
He said Gen Prayuth has said to put all items high on agenda. A high-level
delegation will discuss boosting cultural exchanges between the two nations.
India and Thailand will also look for joint projects in solar energy, space
applications and space technology sectors.
"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.
Noting that India's 'Act East' and Thailand's 'Look West' policies were
complementary to each other, Bishnoi said India was looking forward to signing
several agreements, MoUs on narcotics, cultural exchange with Thailand during
the visit.
A Thailand-India Free Trade Agreement will be discussed.
"We are looking forward to a substantial joint statement which would talk
of other agreements in the pipeline," Bishnoi said, and added that
Thailand is also keen on India's 'Make in India' programme.
He said India appreciated the fact that Thailand was "very sensitive"
to India's security concerns and ensured that Thai territory was not used by
forces inimical to India.
The Thai delegation will discuss cultural links by travelling to Bodh Gaya for
prayers.
The Indian Ambassador here said an agreement will be signed by Nagaland and
Thailand's Chiang Mai universities to conduct Thai and Indian courses
respectively.
India courses have been important to Thailand and centres at Chulalongkorn,
Thammasat, and Silpakorn universities have had Sanskrit and Tamil classes for
61 years, Bishnoi said.
PTI (From Jaishree Balasubramanian)