Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India emphasized India’s commitment to prioritizing relations with Nepal during a “fruitful” bilateral meeting with Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
The leaders engaged in a 45-minute one-on-one discussion at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, focusing on strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, culture, and digital technology.
“Our discussions were highly meaningful and constructive,” PM Oli stated in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the positive outcomes of the dialogue. PM Modi echoed this sentiment, noting on X that the talks covered “various aspects of Nepal-India ties” and included exchanges on key achievements from the BIMSTEC Summit, particularly in disaster management and maritime transport.
PM Oli’s visit to Thailand marked the first official prime ministerial trip from Nepal in the 66-year history of diplomatic relations between the two nations. During his stay, Oli described the BIMSTEC Summit as “successful” and highlighted the signing of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Thailand—two at the government level and four through non-government entities. These agreements span trade, economic cooperation, aviation, tourism, culture, and development.
Oli also extended an official invitation to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, underscoring efforts to deepen bilateral engagement.
During a visit to the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, PM Oli expressed pride in Nepal’s ownership of the embassy building but stressed the need for improved infrastructure. Ambassador Dhan Bahadur Oli echoed this, calling for additional land and a new office complex. The embassy hosted a dinner reception in honor of the Prime Minister, attended by Nepali expatriates and delegation members, including Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal.
The 6th BIMSTEC Summit concluded with the adoption of the Bangkok Vision, a six-point framework prioritizing regional trade expansion, communication networks, and human security. The summit also saw progress in institutional reforms, including the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Dhaka.
PM Oli’s visit, which included high-level engagements and bilateral breakthroughs, signals Nepal’s proactive role in regional diplomacy and its aspirations to bolster ties with both immediate neighbors and Southeast Asian partners.
