PM Modi embarks on 3-day Thailand visit, to address community programme in Bangkok today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-day visit to Thailand on Saturday morning to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summits.

Besides attending the meetings, Modi is scheduled to address the `Sawasdee PM Modi` community programme in Bangkok today. 

The Indian Prime Minister will also release a commemorative coin marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, as well as the release of a Thai translation of Tamil classic Tirukkural, news agency ANI reported quoting Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

On November 3, Modi will co-chair the 16th ASEAN-India summit with Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, on whose invitation he is visiting the country.

The meeting will take stock of the progress made in the relationship between India and the ASEAN member countries, ANI report added. 

The Prime Minister will attend a special lunch hosted by the Thai Prime Minister for the leaders of the East Asian countries participating in the summit the following day. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will take part in the 14th East Asia summit. 

The agenda of the meet would be to review the future direction of East Asia cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues. 

The member countries participating in the summit account for 54 per cent of the world`s population and 58 per cent of the world`s GDP.

Subsequently, Modi will take part in the RCEP summit, where the leaders of the member countries will review the state of negotiations which are ongoing in Bangkok currently and will continue over the next few days.

On the sidelines of the three summits, the Prime Minister will also hold several bilaterals. He will return to New Delhi on the evening of November 4.