H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to pay an official visit to India during 11 – 12 July 2024. The visit aims to advance bilateral cooperation between Thailand and India, as well as to attend the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat to exchange views on issues surrounding BIMSTEC, including fostering BIMSTEC cooperation, enhancing BIMSTEC’s institutional strength, and preparations for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in September 2024.

On this occasion, the Foreign Minister, together with the other BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers, will jointly pay a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Narenda Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, to discuss ways to further enhance BIMSTEC cooperation. He is also scheduled to have a bilateral discussion with the Minister of External Affairs of India and will jointly preside over the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition titled "Thailand-India Interwoven Legacies: Stream of Faith in Buddhism,” held on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6^th Cycle Birthday Anniversary at the National Museum in New Delhi.

The objectives of this visit include promoting high-level exchanges, advancing Thailand's proactive economic diplomacy, fostering connectivity, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. The visit also serves as an important platform for exchanging views on international and regional issues of mutual interest. In addition, attending the 2nd BIMSTEC FM Retreat will be an opportunity for Thailand to reiterate its commitment as Chair of BIMSTEC (2022-20224) towards a prosperous, resilient, and open future, guided by BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030. BIMSTEC was formed in Bangkok in 1997 and the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was initiated by Thailand in 2023 to be a mechanism for BIMSTEC Ministers to discuss issues of mutual interest in a candid and unscripted manner.