Modi to Meet BIMSTEC Leaders, Strengthen Regional Ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that he will meet with the leaders of BIMSTEC countries to explore ways of strengthening collaboration, with a focus on advancing the interests of the people in the region.

“I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration, keeping the interests of our people in mind,” Modi said in a statement as he began his visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka on Thursday.

This year’s BIMSTEC Summit, set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4, holds significant importance for Bangladesh as it will assume the chairmanship of the grouping for the next two years. Bangladesh sees the summit as an opportunity to present itself as a "just and inclusive" nation in South and Southeast Asia, officials said.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will arrive in Bangkok on Thursday afternoon to attend the summit, his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed to UNB.

There are indications that a meeting between Dr. Yunus and Prime Minister Modi will take place on the sidelines of the summit, although details remain unclear.

South Asian affairs analyst Michael Kugelman noted in a tweet that if the meeting happens, it would be the biggest diplomatic development between India and Bangladesh since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Modi’s official visit to Thailand is at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. During the trip, he will attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and engage with Thai leaders to enhance bilateral ties. Modi highlighted that over the past decade, BIMSTEC has become a crucial forum for regional development, connectivity, and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region, noting that India’s North Eastern region lies at the heart of BIMSTEC.

Following his visit to Thailand, Modi will travel to Sri Lanka from April 4-6. This visit will build on the successful trip by Sri Lankan President Disanayaka to India last December.

“We will review the progress made on our shared vision of ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ and provide further guidance to achieve our mutual goals,” Modi stated.

He expressed confidence that these visits would strengthen India’s close relationships with both Thailand and Sri Lanka, benefiting their people and the broader region.