PM Modi in Thailand: Strengthening India’s Cultural Diplomacy Ahead of BIMSTEC Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bangkok on Thursday for a two-day visit to participate in the sixth BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit. Shortly after his arrival, he held a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, where they discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Thai artists who performed the Thai Ramayana, Ramakien, to welcome him on his arrival in Bangkok (Photo: https://x.com/narendramodi)

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, warmly welcomed PM Modi, highlighting the significance of India’s commitment to regional collaboration and cultural diplomacy.

At Don Mueang Airport, the Indian diaspora greeted him with vibrant cultural performances. The Sikh community showcased energetic Bhangra, while other groups presented India’s diverse traditions, including Garba from Gujarat and Jain Navkar mantras. As a token of respect, the Sikh community gifted a memento symbolizing the Golden Temple.

Additionally, the ISKCON community presented the Bhagavad Gita, and a captivating dance performance based on Thailand’s national epic, Ramakien, enthralled the audience. Rooted in India’s Ramayana, Ramakien reflects the deep cultural connections between the two nations.

BIMSTEC Summit: Enhancing Regional Ties

The Bimstec Summit, themed "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open," focuses on strengthening cooperation among its member nations—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Prime Minister Modi held in-depth discussions with Thai PM Shinawatra, while delegation-level talks between the two countries addressed maritime cooperation and connectivity in the Bay of Bengal region.

Regarding regional collaboration, key outcomes of the Bimstec Summit include the Bangkok Vision 2030 and agreements aimed at enhancing institutional capacity-building.

PM Modi's Message

In his farewell statement, PM Modi underscored Bimstec’s crucial role in advancing regional development and connectivity over the past decade. With a collective population of 1.7 billion and a GDP of $4.7 trillion, Bimstec serves as a key platform for driving economic growth and security across South and Southeast Asia.

PM Modi also subtly addressed Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who leads the transitional government following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024—just seven months after her parliamentary election victory. Yunus had previously stated that Bangladesh was the gateway to the Bay of Bengal, implying that India’s Northeast was landlocked.

Countering this claim, PM Modi asserted in his departure statement that India’s Northeast is “at the heart of Bimstec,” rejecting Yunus’s perspective as Bangladesh shifts its regional stance by engaging China in the Indian subcontinent.

Connecting Civilizations Through Cultural Diplomacy

PM Modi’s visit to Thailand aligns with his broader vision of promoting India’s cultural heritage on the global stage. Wherever he travels, Indian traditions take the spotlight. During his March 2025 visit to Mauritius, he offered sacred water from Triveni Sangam at Ganga Talao, symbolizing the deep spiritual connection between India and Mauritius. In Kuwait last year, he engaged with scholars known for translating the Mahabharata and Ramayana into Arabic.

His international visits have consistently featured cultural exchanges. In Brazil, he attended a Ramayana performance in Rio de Janeiro, accompanied by Vedic chants. In Guyana, children welcomed him with soulful renditions of Ram Bhajans.

During his October 2024 visit to Russia, locals in Kazan sang Krishna Bhajans. In Laos, he was greeted with chants of the Gayatri Mantra and a performance of the Lao adaptation of the Ramayana, reflecting the enduring influence of Indian epics.

Enhancing India-Thailand Ties

India and Thailand share deep-rooted civilizational ties, strengthened by linguistic, cultural, and religious connections. This bond was recently reaffirmed through the exposition of Lord Buddha’s relics in five Thai cities, symbolizing their shared Buddhist heritage.

During his visit to Thailand, PM Modi will not only attend the BIMSTEC Summit but also engage in bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Shinawatra. As maritime neighbors and key partners under India’s Act East policy, Thailand holds strategic significance in India’s Indo-Pacific vision. This visit marks PM Modi’s second trip to Thailand, building on the positive momentum established during his participation in the 2019 ASEAN Summit.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global landscape, particularly influenced by US President Donald Trump’s policy shifts since late January, PM Modi’s visit aims to blend cultural diplomacy with regional collaboration. By highlighting India’s traditions at global platforms like BIMSTEC, he continues to strengthen international partnerships while showcasing India’s rich heritage on the world stage.

PM Modi Honored with "The World Tipitaka"

In a notable gesture of cultural and spiritual diplomacy, Thai Prime Minister presented PM Modi with The World Tipitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition.

The Tipitaka (in Pali) or Tripitaka (in Sanskrit) is a revered collection of Lord Buddha’s teachings, comprising 108 volumes and recognized as the principal Buddhist scripture.

The edition gifted to PM Modi is a meticulously curated version, written in both Pali and Thai scripts, designed to preserve the precise pronunciation of over nine million syllables.

Originally published in 2016 under the World Tipitaka Project, this special edition was commissioned by the Thai government to honor the 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit.

Multiple MoUs Signed

The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral relations by establishing a strategic partnership between India and Thailand. Additionally, both nations exchanged multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across various sectors.

One of the key agreements was the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the India-Thailand Strategic Partnership.

An MoU was signed between Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to foster cooperation in digital technologies, according to sources.

Another agreement was exchanged between India's Sagarmala Division (Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways) and Thailand's Fine Arts Department (Ministry of Culture) for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat.

In the area of small businesses, a memorandum was signed between India's National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC) and Thailand's Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) to promote collaboration in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

Furthermore, India's Ministry for the Development of the North Eastern Region (MDONER) and Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged an MoU.

Another agreement was signed between India's North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) and Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA) to support cooperation in the creative and cultural sectors.

(This Article was originally published by First Post)