PM Oli Departs for Thailand on Official Visit, to Attend BIMSTEC Summit

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has left for Thailand today on a five-day official visit at the invitation of his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

At Tribhuvan International Airport, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, senior government officials, and security chiefs were present at the VVIP lounge to bid him farewell. Before departure, a Nepali Army contingent accorded the Prime Minister a guard of honor.

During his visit, PM Oli will hold bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart, focusing on strengthening Nepal-Thailand relations. Following this, he will lead Nepal’s 21-member delegation to the Sixth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Bangkok on April 4, where he will deliver an address.

On April 3, he is set to attend a dinner reception hosted in honor of the participating heads of state and government. Additionally, he will engage in bilateral discussions with leaders of BIMSTEC member states on the sidelines of the summit.

Despite long-standing Nepal-Thailand ties, this marks the first official visit by a Nepali Prime Minister to Thailand. The last high-level visit from Thailand was in 1983 by then-Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda, who passed away in 2019.

PM Oli’s delegation includes his spouse Radhika Shakya, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Political Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Secretary Eak Narayan Aryal, senior officials, as well as representatives from the private sector and media.

The Cabinet approved the visit schedule on March 24, and PM Oli is set to return on April 5.