India and Thailand have agreed to forge a closer partnership in the fields of defence and maritime cooperation. The two countries also inked two agreements in the area of culture and education.
In a press statement after delegation level talks with the visiting Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha in New Delhi this afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said close Security partnership would help both the countries to secure people from rising threat of terrorism.
He said beyond terrorism, India and Thailand agreed to further deepen security engagement in the fields of cyber security, narcotics, transnational economic offences and Human Trafficking.
To welcome more tourists from Thailand, Mr Modi announced that India will soon facilitate double entry e-tourist visas for Thai citizens.
Prime Minister Modi said, India and Thailand have prioritized completion of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral highway and early signing of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between the three countries.
Mr Modi said, improving access to Southeast Asia from Northeastern States benefits people of the both sides.
He said, early conclusion of a balanced Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement is a shared priority for both the nations.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha said, he and Mr Modi agreed to encourage Indian and Thai businessmen to invest in each other’s countries. He also said there is a need to expedite negotiations regarding free Trade Agreement between India and Thailand to increase volume of trade.
The visiting dignitary said he will encourage his country’s businessmen to be part of India’s Make In India programme.
Later, a joint statement said the economic relations between the two countries are deep rooted in bilateral Free Trade Agreement, ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement and Early Harvest Scheme.
They agreed to enhance economic relations further by striving to increase bilateral trade and engaging in bilateral and multilateral forums. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha also agreed to encourage more investments from investors of both the sides.
Both sides also welcomed the intention to forge sister states and sister city relations between Assam and Chiang Mai and as well as Surat and Surat Thani.
Mr Modi and Mr Chan-o-Cha announced to hold festival of India in Thailand and festival of Thailand in India. Sawasdee India Year and Namaste Thailand Year will be held simultaneously in 2017 to commemorate the occasion.
