Prime Minister Modi to Attend 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand, Visit Sri Lanka from April 3-6, 2025

New Delhi, March 28: At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bangkok, Thailand, from April 3-4, 2025, to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled for April 4. Thailand, as the current BIMSTEC Chair, will host the summit, marking the first in-person meeting of BIMSTEC leaders since the 4th Summit in Kathmandu in 2018.

The last summit, held in Colombo in March 2022, took place in a virtual format. This will be Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Thailand, reflecting the growing importance of India’s engagement with the region.The theme of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, "BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient and Open", highlights the regional bloc's commitment to deeper integration and cooperation.

Leaders will deliberate on strategies to revitalise BIMSTEC cooperation, enhance institutional capacity, and expand collaborative efforts across key areas, including security, trade, investment, maritime connectivity, digital integration, climate resilience, and human security.

India has long prioritised BIMSTEC over SAARC as a regional cooperation mechanism, aligning with its ‘Act East’ policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision for the Indo-Pacific.

By fostering stronger ties with Bay of Bengal nations, India aims to reinforce regional stability and economic growth while counterbalancing geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific. The summit will serve as a platform to reinforce India’s role in regional maritime security, connectivity, and economic integration.

On the bilateral front, Prime Minister Modi is set to meet Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra on April 3 to review ongoing collaborations and explore new avenues for partnership. India and Thailand, maritime neighbours with deep-rooted cultural, linguistic, and religious ties, continue to expand their cooperation in trade, security, and infrastructure development.

Following his visit to Thailand, Prime Minister Modi will embark on a State Visit to Sri Lanka from April 4-6, 2025, at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During this visit, discussions will focus on reviewing progress in bilateral cooperation as outlined in the Joint Vision for "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future", agreed upon during the Sri Lankan President’s State Visit to India. Modi will also engage with senior officials and political leaders and inaugurate development projects in Anuradhapura, implemented with Indian financial assistance.

This will be Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Sri Lanka since 2019, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening its multifaceted partnership with the island nation. Sri Lanka's strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a crucial partner in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and New Delhi continues to support its neighbour’s economic recovery and infrastructure growth.

Prime Minister Modi’s engagements in Thailand and Sri Lanka highlight India's proactive regional diplomacy and strategic vision. By reaffirming the ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, along with the MAHASAGAR vision, these visits will further cement India's role as a key driver of stability, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.