India and Thailand have pledged to strengthen their partnership at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting which was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who is on an official visit to India from February 25-28.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (right) and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (Photo: ANI)
New Delhi (VNA) – India and Thailand have pledgedto strengthen their partnership at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting whichwas co-chaired by 🗹India’sExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Thai Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Parnprꦕee Bahiddha-Nukara, who is on an official visit to Indiafrom February 25-28.
Duringthe meeting, the officials assessed the progress in various areas of bilateralcooperation, covering defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity,science and technology, health, culture, and people-to-people exchange. Thetwo sides also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutualconcern. They committed to deepening cooperation across sub-regional, regional, and multinational platforms, particularly within frameworks such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-MekongEconomic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).
Recognising the convergence between India's Act East Policy,commemorating its 10th year in 2024, and Thailand's Act West Policy, bothnations pledged to leverage their synergies. Jaishankar welcomed Thailand'srole in co-leading the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the Indo-Pacific OceansInitiative (IPOI).
Investment in Thailand’s Land Bridge mega project andwaiving the visa requirement for Thais visiting India were among th🌳e topics upfor discussion during Parnpree's visitto India. Both sideshope to increase trade and investment value to 35 billion US🌌D by 2027./.
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee held its third meeting from February 16-19 in New Delhi to review and discuss changes to the agreement.
The rising debts of households in Thailand have prompted financial institutes to employ stricter criteria in granting auto loans, resulting in the automotive industry's production and sales down in January compared to the same period last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)’s Automotive Industry Club.
The Thai cabinet approved initiatives to turn Thailand into a halal hub in Southeast Asia by 2028, intending to raise the country’s GDP by 1.2% or 55 billion THB (1.52 billion USD).
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (right) and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (Photo: ANI) 
