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Vice President Visit to Thailand & Brunei – Part of Act East Policy

Dear Readers,


Recently our Vice President Hamid Ansari embarked on a visit to Thailand and Brunei. This trip becomes more important because he will be the first ever Vice President to visit Brunei. For the LIC AAO examination point of view as well as SIDBI interview, it is really important for you to know the facts. Strategically thats a important area for India as south china sea is a global issue  now and a lot of Indians reside in these two countries.So let us read more about it.

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First of all we should know the capital and currency of the country he visited. We should also know who is the head of the state he is visiting. Below are the details.

Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Baht
Prime Minister: Prayut-Chan-o-Cha

Brunei
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Currency: Brunei Dollar
Sultan: Hassanal Bolkiah

Deputy Sultan: Al-Muhtadee billah


Act East policy: Vice President Hamid Ansari on five days visit to Brunei & Thailand 

Adding another chapter to the Government’s Act East policy, Vice-President Hamid Ansari embarked on a trip to Brunei and Thailand. His visit to Brunei at the invitation of crown prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah is the first high-level trip from India since the establishment of diplomatic relations with that country in May 1984. 

Brunei was on the itinerary of Ansari’s two-nation trip in November, but he had to return home from Indonesia, which was hit by volcanic activity. The Vice President was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs HaribhaiParthibhaiChaudhary, four MPs and senior officials.In Bandar Seri Begawan, Ansari held talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Billah on issues of bilateral and multilateral significance including civil aviation, space, trade and investment, hydrocarbons, information and communication. 
Cooperation in ASEAN and East Asia Summit and other multilateral fora were also on the agenda and a couple of MoUs on health and defence cooperation would be signed. Ansari had delivered at the University of Brunei Darussalam and addressed the Indian community at a reception. Brunei is an important partner for India in ASEAN and besides contributing to energy security, hosts a 10,000-strong Indian community.

Maritime security, trade routes on agenda at India-Thai meet

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In a major initiative, India discussed with Thailand the possibility of a multi-lateral venture on maritime security and establishment of maritime trade routes, also involving countries like Japan and Myanmar.During discussions between Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha here, the two sides also decided to collaborate in jointly developing and manufacturing defence equipment as also investing in infrastructure development programmes.Other issues discussed at the high-level meeting included 

1.Strengthening ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security, joint military exercises and pharmaceuticals.

2.The two sides also discussed a proposal to establish a working level group to complete the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway which is expected to fructify in about two years.

3.Issues related to extradition of gangsters and exchanging information on how to apprehend wanted terrorists if they happen to be in ASEAN countries were also discussed.

Sources said that while many issues of mutual importance were on the table, the focus remained on defence and counter-terrorism and investment. Briefing the media after the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa said Thailand’s plans on East-West and North-South corridors jelled well with India’s connectivity programme. The Dawei connectivity project and how Indiafits into it were also discussed, he said.

Ansari, the first Indian Vice-President to visit Thailand in 50 years, arrived here from Brunei to a ceremonial welcome, including a 19-gun salute. He extended an invitation to the Crown Prince to visit India in the near future.India will also play host to Thai Prime Minister as also Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, a well-known Sanskrit scholar, who will be conferred the World Sanskrit Award later this year.

ASEAN Summit:
  • The 27th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18-22 November 2015.
  • 26th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi, Malaysia, 26-28 April 2015.

ASEAN Member Nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam

MGC :
The working mechanism for MGC consists of the Annual Ministerial Meeting (back to back with ASEAN Ministerial Meeting), the Senior Official’s Meeting, and the five Working Groups namely;
  • Working Group on Tourism (Thailand is the lead country)
  • Working Group on Education (HRD) (India is the lead country)
  • Working Group on Culture (Cambodia is the lead country)
  • Working Group on Communication & Transportation (Laos PDR is the lead country)
  • Working Group on Plan of Actions (Vietnam is the lead country)

MGC Member Nations: India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam


To read about click here:Vice President visit to Laos and Cambodia

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