India and Thailand: Open New Horizons of Cooperation

Author: Vandana Tyagi

Abstract:
Over the past two decades India’s ‘Look East’ policy has been complemented by Thailand’s ‘Look West’ policy in bringing the two countries closer. India and Thailand would celebrate 65 years of their diplomatic relations in 2012. In recent years, political contacts have intensified as reflected in a series of high level visits by leaders of the two countries. Trade and economic linkages and tourist traffic continue to grow steadily. Both countries are important regional partners linking South and Southeast Asia. They cooperate closely in the ASEAN, East Asia Summit (EAS) and BIMSTEC groupings as also Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The implementation of the India- AESAN Agreement on Trade in Goods from January 2010 is an important latest milestone of this partnership. India and Thailand have good connectivity in the civil aviation sector with as many as 138 flights operating a week. India is looking at Thailand as an important bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asian hinterland. A trilateral project to construct a highway between India, Myanmar and Thailand is in the works and is likely to be completed by 2016.

Keywords:Keywords: Bilateral Agreement, Economic Cooperation, Treaties and Agreement, MoUs.

DOI:

International Journal of Trade & Commerce (Vol: 3 Issue:2)