On 27 December 2011, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna co-chaired the Sixth Thailand-India Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi, India to strengthen bilateral relations and follow up on pending issues as well as to discuss preparations for the official visit to India by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day, for which only one head of state or government is invited each year. The Thai Prime Minister's upcoming visit therefore reflects the importance attached to Thailand by India in line with the latter’s Look East policy as well as the importance attached to India by Thailand’s Look West policy.
Regarding the Sixth Thailand-India Joint Commission Meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also invited representatives from other government agencies to participate, namely, the National Security Council, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Ministry of Science and Technology. Issues discussed during the Meeting including the following:
1. Security and defence issues: following up on outcomes of the Joint Working Group on Security and expediting the finalisation of the MOU on Defence Cooperation.
2. Economic issues: expediting negotiations of the Thailand-India Free Trade Agreement with a view to concluding it by mid-2012 and requesting the India side to allow the transfer of seating capacity rights from partially utilised routes to those that have already reached full capacity temporarily.
3. Science and technology issues: expediting the finalisation of the 2012-2014 joint cooperation plan on science and technology under the agreement between Thailand and India. Furthermore, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand proposed cooperation with India in such areas as urban mapping, satellite image processing and earth observation satellite design.
4. Natural resources and environmental management issues: the Meeting expedited negotiation on the MOU on natural resources and environment cooperation. Cooperation on water resources management was proposed to support the Thai Government’s Strategic Committee for Water Resource Management on this issue.
5. Cultural issues: expediting the finalisation of the cultural exchange program under the Thai-Indian cultural agreement, jointly celebrating Buddhajayanti, the anniversary of 2,600 years of Buddha's Enlightenment, and supporting the restoration of Nalanda University.
6. Tourism issues: promoting the use of Thailand as a filming location and requesting India’s assistance in facilitating Thai pilgrims traveling to India as well as issuing visas on arrival for Thai tourists.
7. Legal and consular issues: expediting the negotiations of pending issues such as the agreement on the transfer of sentenced prisoners, the extradition treaty and the mutual legal assistance treaty on civil and commercial cases, as well as requesting a waiver of India's minimum annual salary of 25,000 USD requirement for employment visa applications.
8. Connectivity issues: cooperation on the construction of the Trilateral Highway Project linking India-Myanmar-Thailand and the linking of Dawei Deep Sea Port to ports along the Bay of Bengal, Chennai and the Pak Bara Deep Sea Port project in Satun.
Furthermore, both Thailand and India agreed to establish joint working groups on consular affairs to facilitate the entry of and address issues faced by investors, priests, tourists and businessmen, as well as on connectivity to develop transportation network between the two countries and their sub regions.
Prior to attending the JC Meeting, the Foreign Minister held a separate meeting with Minister of External Affairs of India in which the Indian side underscored the strategic importance of Thailand, in line with India’s Look East policy. Foreign Minister Surapong also expressed appreciation to the Indian Government for welcoming and facilitating the royal visits to India by members of the Thai Royal Family as well as for the flood relief assistance of around six million baht. Preparations for the Thai Prime Minister’s official visit as Chief Guest for India's Republic Day celebrations were also discussed.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th