By NNN-TNA,
Bangkok : Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to depart Bangkok for India to attend the meeting of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in New Delhi Nov 12-14.
Mr. Somchai leaves Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samutprakan Province Wednesday evening on a special Thai Airways International flight to the Indian capital, arriving at Indira Gandhi International airport.
On Thursday Mr. Somchai will meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh at the Taj Palace Hotel at 9.15 am.
The Thai premier will then attend the opening ceremony of the second summit of BIMSTEC meeting followed by a summit of the leaders of member countries.
In the afternoon, Mr. Somchai will meet representatives of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry before a bilateral meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
The Thai premier will join other BIMSTEC leaders in a courtesy call to Indian President Pratibha Patil at her official residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
On Friday the prime minister and his entourage would leave New Delhi at midnight and is expected to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 5.35 am.
BIMSTEC is a forum of seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Countries eligible for BIMSTEC membership are those sharing the Bay of Bengal or primarily depending on it.
BIMSTEC, initiated by Thailand, was established by four founding members on 6 June 1997 under the name BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation).
At its First Summit on July 31, 2004, in Bangkok, its name was changed to the ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’, or BIMSTEC.
Thailand sees BIMSTEC as an essential part in joining Thailand’s “Look West” policy with India’s “Look East” policy.
Such cooperation will help effect the current Thai government’s Forward Engagement foreign policy which aims to strengthen its existing relations and at the same time create ties with new allies.