Thailand visit a milestone: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her official visit to Thailand will remain a milestone in bilateral relations. It ushered in a new era of fruitful partnership between our two countries.

She made the remark on Thursday (4 May) while addressing a press conference at her official residence in Dhaka on her official visit to Thailand on April 24-29.

At the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Sheikh Hasina visited Thailand on April 24-29, 2024 on a bilateral visit and to attend the 80th session of the UN-ESCAP. 

The 80th annual session of UN-ESCAP was held on April 22-26, 2024 in Bangkok. A prerecorded video message of Sheikh Hasina was screened on the main theme of the session, ÒLeveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.

In the morning on April 25, Sheikh Hasina gave a speech on achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals through strengthening cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region at a session of UN-ESCAP.

On the same day, United Nations Under-Secretary General and UN-ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana called on Sheikh Hasina. During the meeting, the Bangladesh premier put emphasis on enhancing mutual cooperation between the countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia region.

Sheikh Hasina also visited a side event under the arrangement of the ICT Division held at the conference venue, and a pavilion titled “Digital to Smart Bangladesh by 2041”.

The Bangladesh PM also called on His Majesty the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan at the Thai royal palace the same day. 

On the third day of the visit, Sheikh Hasina reached the Government House and the Thai Prime Minister formally welcomed her again to Thailand with a state guard of honor. She later had a tete a tete with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin where apart from other bilateral issues, she sought Thailand's cooperation in quick repatriating of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya community) to their homeland.

After this a bilateral meeting was held with the participation of delegations from both countries led by the prime ministers. 

In the meeting, the review of the "Free Trade Agreement" with a view to expanding trade and increasing imports and exports between the two countries as well as other issues of common interest were discussed. 

At the end of the bilateral meeting, an agreement, three memorandum of understandings and a Letter of Intent were signed to further expand the area of cooperation between the two countries.

The documents are:

• Agreement on Visa Exemption for Official Passport Holders;
• MoU on Energy Cooperation;
• MoU on Tourism Cooperation;
• MoU on Customs Cooperation; and
• Letter of Intent for starting negotiation on Free trade agreement.

Sheikh Hasina added that The official visit of the head of government of Bangladesh to Thailand, an important member state of ASEAN, is very significant. The visit is expected to play a significant role in Bangladesh's achieving of the candidacy of ASEAN's 'Sectoral Dialogue Partner' by 2024.