What is the issue?
India-Thai relations to be get stronger on people-to-people contact.
What is the importance of Indo-Thai relations?
- India and Thailand have historical and cultural roots that reach beyond our 70 years of diplomatic relations.
- Both countries have been shaped and remain linked by the great forces of history and culture that span thousands of years.
- There are lot of literary and other artistic sources to prove the ties.
What are the area specific significance of the bilateral ties?
- Economy - Both countries are undergoing comprehensive reforms.
- Make in India is pursuing sustainable and inclusive economic growth for its peoples.
- Thailand 4.0, targeting Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- These reformative actions can be utilized by both the nation for strengthening their ties.
- Political - Prime Minister of Thailand visited India in 2016.
- There is a common challenge in the fight against terrorism, narcotics and transnational organised crime.
- Military and security relations are constructive and mutually beneficial, covering the land, sea and air dimensions.
- India has a valuable role to play, together with other regional powers, in ASEAN and the greater Indo-Pacific.
- Trade - Thailand, being well established on global value chains, holds great opportunities for India, especially in manufacturing and services.
- Thailand is working hard with India to link these two markets through India’s North-eastern region and Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.
- Beyond India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, modes of connectivity, particularly maritime and air, should also be utilised to their maximum potential.
- New initiatives such as the Eastern Economic Corridor offer opportunities in the areas of next generation automotive, aviation, smart electronics, robotics, digital economy, healthcare, biotech, biofuel and biochemical.
- Multilateral ties - Political will on all sides will also ensure delivery of the RCEP and BIMSTEC FTAs to give an added economic boost to ASEAN, South Asia and beyond.
- This year also marks the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations.
- An invitation has also been extended to the leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states to visit India for the Republic Day celebration on January 26, 2018.
- Society - Last year, India paid its respects to the late King in Bangkok, which touched the hearts and souls of the Thai people.
- Last March, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn made her 17th visit to receive the Padma Bhushan from Indian president.
- Booming tourism and exchanges of high-profile visits are helping to transform the modern Thai person’s perspective on new India and vice versa.
- People to people contacts are great, with 1.2 million Indians visiting Thailand every year.
- This healthy people-to-people contacts adds to the reserve of goodwill that Indians have for Thais.
Source: Indian Express
