Oli, Modi hold talks on Bimstec sidelines; PM Oli terms Thailand visit historic

Prakash Silwal / Bangkok, April 4: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that his first official visit to Thailand remained historic and the Sixth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was successful.

Prime Minister Oli, who is on an official visit to Thailand and to attend the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Thailand, said this while visiting the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok.

This is the first official visit from Nepal’s Prime Minister to Thailand during the 66 years long history of official diplomatic ties between Nepal and Thailand.

Likewise, PM Oli has extended invitation to his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Similarly, Nepal and Thailand signed various six Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs): two from the government level and remaining six from the non-government side during Prime Minister Oli’s ongoing official visit to Thailand.

The MoUs include promoting bilateral relations, trade and economic cooperation, and the cooperation in aviation, tourism, cultural and development sectors.

Visiting the Embassy of Nepal, PM Oli expressed happiness for having Nepal’s own building to run the embassy and pointed out the need for better infrastructure development.

The others visiting the Embassy of Nepal included First Lady Radhika Shakya, Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, PM’s Chief Adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Economic and Development Adviser Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, among others.

Receiving the PM-led delegation at the Embassy, Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand Dhan Bahadur Oli said that new office building should be built and additional land should be managed.

Furthermore, the Embassy of Nepal organized a dinner reception this evening in honour of the PM. On the occasion, PM, other members of the delegation and the Nepali community in Thailand were present.

The sixth BIMSTEC Summit concluded on Friday by approving six-point proposal including the Bangkok Vision which emphasizes on keeping the trade expansion, communication network and human security in the region in the centre.

Oli, Modi hold talks on Bimstec sidelines

Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of development partnership, energy, people-to-people ties, and connectivity, says the MEA, India.
Oli, Modi hold talks on Bimstec sidelines

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting on the sidelines of the Sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) Summit in Bangkok on Friday.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, the discussions focused on enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of development partnership, energy, people-to-people ties, and connectivity.

“India looks forward to adding even greater momentum to its bilateral ties with Nepal,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X after the meeting.

Prime Minister Oli said the discussions were meaningful and constructive.

“Had a warm and heartfelt meeting with my dear friend, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji.Our discussions were highly meaningful and constructive. I express my appreciation over this cordial exchange,” PM Oli said in a post on X.

What transpired in the meeting between the two prime ministers is keenly watched, particularly because New Delhi has yet to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Oli after he became head of the government in July of last year.

Their previous meeting during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York reportedly did not go well, according to the officials familiar with the New York meeting.

Earlier, Bimstec Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Oli. The Bimstec Secretariat is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Earlier, addressing the sixth Bimstec Summit, Oli called for deeper regional cooperation within Bimstec to transform the Bay of Bengal region into a “prosperous, resilient and open” hub. Oli said the regional grouping must navigate present-day global uncertainties and seize opportunities to foster prosperity, resilience and openness.

Minister Oli held bilateral meetings with several leaders from Bimstec member countries on Thursday. He met his Sri Lankan counterpart Harini Amarasuriya, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Oli also met Min Aung Hlaing, the prime minister of Myanmar.