India and Thailand have pledged to strengthen their partnership at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting which was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who is on an official visit to India from February 25-28.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (right) and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (Photo: ANI)
New Delhi (VNA)🌄 – India and Thailand have pledgedto strengthen their partnership at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting whichwas co-chaired by India’sExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Thai Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who is on an official visit to Indiafrom February 25-28.
Duringthe meeting, the officials assessed the progress in various areas of bilateralcooperation, covering defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity,science and technology, health, culture, and people-to-people exchange. Thetwo sides also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutualconcern. They committed to deepening cooperation across sub-regional, regional, and multinational platforms, particularly within frameworks such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and The Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-MekongEconomic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).
Recognising the convergence between India's Act East Policy,commemorating its 10th year in 2024, and Thailand's Act West Policy, bothnations pledged to leverage their synergies. Jaishankar welcomed Thailand'srole in co-leading the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the Indo-Pacific OceansInitiative (IPOI).
🍨 Investment in Thailand’s Land Bridge mega project andwaiving the visa requirement for Thais visiting India were among the topics upfor discussion during Parnpree's visitto India. Both sideshope to increase trade and investment value to 35 billion USD by 2027./.
The ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee held its third meeting from February 16-19 in New Delhi to review and discuss changes to the agreement.
The rising debts of households in Thailand have prompted financial institutes to employ stricter criteria in granting auto loans, resulting in the automotive industry's production and sales down in January compared to the same period last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)’s Automotive Industry Club.
The Thai cabinet approved initiatives to turn Thailand into a halal hub in Southeast Asia by 2028, intending to raise the country’s GDP by 1.2% or 55 billion THB (1.52 billion USD).
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (right) and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (Photo: ANI) 
