India and Thailand elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership during PM Modi's Bangkok visit
India and Thailand elevated their relations to a Strategic Partnership on 3 April 2025, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra witnessed the exchange of the joint declaration in Bangkok.
Summary
India and Thailand elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership on 3 April 2025, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra witnessed the exchange of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership at Government House, Bangkok. The visit, on 3-4 April, also covered the 6th BIMSTEC Summit; it was the two leaders' second meeting. MoUs were exchanged on digital technologies, MSMEs, handlooms and handicrafts, cooperation with India's North Eastern Region, and the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat, with Thailand's Fine Arts Department. The leaders welcomed an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue. Thailand released a special postage stamp depicting 18th-century Ramayana mural paintings, Shinawatra presented Modi with the Tipitaka in Pali, and Modi announced that Buddha relics found in Aravali, Gujarat, in 1960 would be sent to Thailand for an exposition.
Key facts
- Upgrade
- Strategic Partnership, joint declaration exchanged on 3 April 2025
- Leaders
- PM Narendra Modi and Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra
- Visit
- Official visit to Thailand, 3-4 April 2025, with the 6th BIMSTEC Summit
- Heritage MoU
- National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal, with Thailand's Fine Arts Department
- Other MoUs
- Digital technologies; MSMEs; handlooms and handicrafts; North Eastern Region
- Gestures
- Ramayana mural stamp; Tipitaka in Pali; Buddha relics from Aravali to Thailand
Practice MCQs 5 questions
During PM Modi's visit to Bangkok on 3 April 2025, India and Thailand elevated their relationship to a:
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Correct answer: D — Strategic Partnership
PIB (PMO): the two leaders witnessed the exchange of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership.
An India-Thailand MoU signed on 3 April 2025 concerns the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at:
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Correct answer: C — Lothal
PIB (PMO), list of outcomes: an MoU between the Sagarmala Division of the Ports Ministry and Thailand's Fine Arts Department for development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.
Which Buddhist scripture did Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra present to PM Modi on 3 April 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Tipitaka in Pali
PIB (PMO): PM Modi was presented a special edition of the Buddhist holy scriptures, the Tipitaka in Pali, by PM Shinawatra.
During PM Modi's visit on 3 April 2025, India welcomed Thailand's decision to co-lead which pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative (IPOI)?
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Correct answer: B — Maritime Ecology
PIB (PMO), PM's press statement: India welcomed Thailand's decision to co-lead the 'Maritime Ecology' Pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative.
Consider the following outcomes of PM Modi's visit to Thailand on 3 April 2025: 1. An MoU between India's MeitY and Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society on digital technologies. 2. An MoU between India's NSIC and Thailand's OSMEP on MSMEs. 3. An MoU between India's Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Thailand's Ministry of Culture. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (PMO), list of outcomes: the MeitY-MDES digital MoU and the NSIC-OSMEP MSME MoU were signed. The MDoNER MoU was with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Ministry of Culture, so statement 3 is wrong.