SHILLONG: Asian Confluence hosted the second day of the Brahmaputra–Chao Phraya Dialogue at its Shillong centre, focusing on “The Bay of Bengal, India–Thailand Relations, and the Evolving Strategic Partnership.”
The session brought together senior Thai diplomats, led by H.E. Mrs. Urasa Mongkolnavin (Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand), Indian government officials, and academics from leading institutions in both countries.
Representatives from Thammasat University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Prince of Songkla University, Chulalongkorn University, and senior officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs attended, alongside faculty from NEHU, NIT Meghalaya, and other major Meghalaya colleges.
Mrs. Mongkolnavin highlighted India–Thailand cooperation in connectivity, green industries, education, and defence, while Shri Prashant Agrawal (MEA) called for enhanced air connectivity, clean energy partnerships, and local-level collaborations.
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Amb. Riva Ganguly Das and Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh emphasized the Bay of Bengal’s strategic significance and the Northeast’s role as a bridge to Southeast Asia.
Participants discussed expanding academic exchanges, language and cultural programmes, hackathons, and economic engagement.
The Shillong session concluded the two-day Dialogue, following the Guwahati event that focused on Northeast India–Thailand ties in health, education, youth, and enterprise.
Since 2018, Asian Confluence has led initiatives like the Brahmaputra–Chao Phraya Initiative and NADI, reaffirming its commitment to advancing India–Thailand cooperation across academia, trade, tourism, and innovation.
(4FrontMedia news)
