PM Oli Hails Thailand Visit and BIMSTEC Summit Participation as Fruitful and Impactful

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has described his recent official visit to Thailand and participation in the Sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit as both highly successful and meaningful.

Speaking at a press conference held at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return, PM Oli stated that the visit had elevated Nepal-Thailand relations to a new level. He emphasized that the bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in various areas including trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, education, human resource development, and culture.

“Our shared Buddhist heritage forms a strong foundation for strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties,” Oli noted, adding that Thailand had pledged its support for Nepal’s national vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.” He said Thailand expressed readiness to assist Nepal in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, and information technology.

During the visit, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster cooperation in cultural exchange and tourism. PM Oli also extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Shinawatra to visit Nepal.

On the regional front, PM Oli highlighted the importance of enhanced collaboration through BIMSTEC to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, economic disparities, and political instability. In his address to the Summit, he called for deeper regional cooperation and said the BIMSTEC theme resonated with Nepal’s development aspirations.

He also invited the heads of BIMSTEC member states to attend the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad, Nepal’s multilateral dialogue platform focusing on environmental and global challenges.

Expressing Nepal’s solidarity with earthquake-hit Myanmar and Thailand, PM Oli extended condolences on behalf of the Nepali government and people, and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The Prime Minister noted that the Bangkok Declaration adopted at the Summit underscores the commitment to implement the BIMSTEC Vision 2030 and harness regional economic opportunities to foster sustainable development.

Prior to the main summit, BIMSTEC ministers had convened to push forward an action plan focusing on key areas such as human resource development, public health, science and technology, education, and climate change. PM Oli stressed the urgency of putting these plans into action.

He also met with Nepali and Thai entrepreneurs during the visit, encouraging them to invest in Nepal. He assured that the government is committed to creating a favorable, safe, and result-oriented environment for foreign investors.

On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Oli held bilateral meetings with several regional leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Myanmar’s Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing.

PM Oli had departed for Thailand on April 1, leading a high-level delegation at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai also read out a press note summarizing the outcomes of the visit on behalf of the Prime Minister during the press conference.