India and Thailand celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on Monday. Throughout the year, a series of events and activities have been planned to showcase the cooperation between both countries.
To mark the 75th year of relations, the Royal Thai Embassy has organized celebratory events all year long. These include a textile seminar and exhibition in Varanasi last month, and a painting exhibition at the Lalit Kala Academy in August, both supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
In September, the Embassy plans to bring young entrepreneurs from the North Eastern Region of India to visit Thailand. Additionally, the Thai Consulate-Generals in Kolkata and Team Thailand offices have initiated various activities to celebrate this special occasion.
The historical and cultural ties between India and Thailand date back more than a thousand years before the establishment of diplomatic relations. The political relations between the two countries are close and friendly at all levels, with regular visits from the Royal Thai family, exchanges between government officials, and collaborations in areas such as military, security, trade, investment, culture, and education.
Military and security relations between India and Thailand are constructive, with regular high-level meetings and joint training exercises. The sixth Thailand-India Foreign Office Consultations took place in New Delhi in April, and the ninth Joint Commission meeting will be held in Bangkok later this month to enhance cooperation in all areas.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in the past two years, the friendship and cooperation between India and Thailand remain strong. Both countries have supported each other during times of crisis, with Thailand delivering medical supplies to India during the second Covid wave last year, and India reciprocating the support.
On the economic front, India is Thailand’s largest trading partner in South Asia and the 11th largest worldwide. The trade volume in 2021 reached almost 15 billion USD, an all-time high. There are currently 38 Thai companies investing in India in various sectors.
People-to-people connectivity between Thailand and India is robust, with efforts from both countries’ Tourism Authorities to promote tourism. Thailand remains a popular travel destination for Indians, with the number of Indian tourists doubling from 1.03 million to nearly two million between 2015 and 2019. India ranks first among international air travelers to Thailand in the first half of this year.
