India and Thailand formally elevated bilateral relations to the level of Strategic Partnership, promising to intensify bilateral relations and coordinate in regional and global affairs. It followed extensive high-level interactions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiand Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and the two nations needed increased coordination, which would range from defense, trade, technology and culture.

ASEAN Central to Shared Vision

Among the biggest issues that were brought up was how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attains regional peace and stability. India's second-time Prime Minister also reaffirmed a pledge of unalloyed commitment to the ASEAN unity and centrality of the Indo-Pacific.

ASEAN is India's entire strategic friend, and we have convergences for bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the region,' Modi claimed, continuing to state, 'We are for development, not expansionism.'

It is because India's entire Act East Policy and Thailand's choice of constructing multilateral relations in the Indo-Pacific region, i.e., a rules-based international order.

Five Agreements Signed Key

On the strategic return, the two countries inked five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to augment cooperation in every area.

Perhaps most noteworthy was an MoU between Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and India's Ministry for Development of the North Eastern Region. The MoU will focus on enhancing cooperation in tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people relations, between Thailand and northeast India states in general.

The move is being seen as an attempt to forge historical and cultural bonds and practice soft diplomacy in the region.

Joint Commitment to Security and Humanitarian Interests

The matter of security cooperation was also one on which controversial debate had taken place. India's Prime Minister extended the welcome to Thailand in its journey towards opening up for being in the forefront position in facilitation of repatriation of Indians victimized by transnational human trafficking networks and regional cybercrime groups.

We will stay vigilant in fighting human trafficking, cybercrime, and illegal migration, Modi asserted. "Our intelligence agencies will talk to each other and get hand in glove to address this phenomenon and establish rule of law."

It is also a reflection of the countries' response to border crossing crimes that have been technologically upgraded more in this age of computers.

Encouraging Trade, Innovation, and Technology

India-Thailand economic cooperation has been increasing with both countries at ease with increasing trade, investment, and business ties.

To ensure the trend lasts, the two leaders pledged to increase cooperation in new areas of:

• Renewable energy
• Digital technology
• Electric vehicles (EVs)
• Biotechnology
• Space technology and robotics
• Startups and FinTech

These steps are in consonance with promoting innovation-driven growth, especially by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), handicraft, and handloom industries as economic pillar industries of both nations.

India Offers Free e-Visa to Thai Tourists

In keeping with the continuous process of relaxing restrictions on movements, as yet another measure towards ensuring increased tourism and people-to-people contacts, India has provided free e-visa facility to Thai tourists. The move will go a long way in increasing people-to-people contact, bilateral tourism, and increased social connectivity.

Regional Solutions to Regional Problems

India-Thailand ties are robust because Southeast Asia is faced with a chain of problems originating from the Myanmar domestic conflict and the South China Sea disputes.

Indian and Thai governments, the latter being an ASEAN dialogue partner, renewed commitment to peace as a mechanism to solve disputes, humanitarian assistance, and stability at the regional level.

These were some of the matters at the top of an agenda of an ASEAN summit being hosted in Laos a year ago when the two nations called for increased cooperation and diplomacy.

India's 10-Point Plan to Strengthen ASEAN Relations

On a broader scale, Prime Minister Modi made a 10-point plan announcement at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, calling for increased India-bloc cooperation. Some of them are:

• 2025 proclaimed as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism

• Nalanda University scholarships are doubled

• Shaping the future together through cooperation in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and sustainable development

Closer strategic cooperation is a common vision of an open, free, inclusive, and rule-based Indo-Pacific. All countries see its closer partnership as the guarantor of regional stability, increased economic opportunity, and balance to the global challenges like climate change and cyber security.

As India and Thailand move towards the future side by side, their new partnership not only reinforces bilateral relations but also guarantees ASEAN solidarity and regional infrastructure in general.