Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met yesterday with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 6th Summit of the Bay of Bengal regional grouping in Bangkok.
Modi posted photos of himself shaking hands and speaking with Thaksin, the father of current Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who will chair the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit today.
According to Modi, they spoke at length about India-Thailand cooperation and its benefits for the people of both countries.
“We deliberated on the immense potential in areas like defence, trade, culture, and more,” Modi wrote on his Facebook page.
Modi said Thaksin has extensive experience in governance and policymaking and described him as a great friend of India, noting his warm relationship with the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a former Indian prime minister.
Thaksin is believed to be the de facto super boss behind decision-making in his daughter's government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
Modi was in Bangkok to attend the BIMSTEC summit, which brings together leaders from the seven-member regional group comprising Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, India, and Thailand.
