New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with visiting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, underlining the long-standing friendship between the two countries and describing Thailand as “a very important” maritime neighbour for India.
In opening remarks, Jaishankar welcomed Sihasak and thanked him for accepting an invitation to visit India that was extended on the sidelines of October’s ASEAN summit. He recalled Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Bangkok in April 2025 for the BIMSTEC Summit, when India and Thailand upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership.
“A very warm welcome to you and to your delegation on your first official visit as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. We had a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. At that time, we agreed that we would meet for a more detailed discussion. I’m glad that you could accept my invitation and be here today,” Jaishankar said. He also conveyed respects for the health of the Thai Majesties and noted the November 5 Thai National Day. “India and Thailand have historically shared close and friendly ties. We value Thailand as a long-time friend, apart from being a very important maritime neighbour. India’s Act East policy has found a match in Thailand’s Look West policy. Our ties were elevated to a strategic partnership during PM Modi’s visit to Bangkok in April 2025 for the BIMSTEC Summit. Several agreements, including in the field of handlooms and handicrafts, digital technologies, MSMEs and maritime heritage, were signed,” he added.
According to the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides welcomed progress in cooperation across political engagement, bilateral and multilateral trade and investment, connectivity, startups, science, technology, innovation and space. The Thai minister sought India’s support for Thailand’s interest in joining BRICS during India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026.
They also discussed foreign policy amid current geopolitical challenges. Thailand reiterated its readiness to cooperate with India in multilateral frameworks to strengthen regional integration. Jaishankar stressed the importance of regular exchanges on pressing issues and looked forward to detailed talks on the situation in Myanmar during the Thai minister’s visit.
Earlier, Sihasak urged deeper collaboration to counter the rise of transnational cyber-scam networks, calling for urgent coordinated action to tackle syndicates operating along Thailand’s borders with Myanmar and Cambodia. He said that during a recent crackdown, more than 1,000 Indian nationals fled to Thailand and received emergency assistance, while many others are believed to remain trapped in scam hubs run by criminal networks across the region.
Calling cyber scams a shared threat, the Thai minister said Thailand and India must work together and that broader regional and international cooperation is essential. In their bilateral meeting both sides discussed joint efforts to address emerging threats, including online scams and assistance to Indian victims. Thailand invited India to join the International Conference on Global Partnerships to Combat Online Scams and expressed interest in co-hosting the event from 17–18 December 2025 in Bangkok to advance international cooperation on the issue, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. (ANI)
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