Sushma Swaraj to visit Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore to mark ASEAN-India partnership's silver jubilee

In a build up to the forthcoming ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, which marks the silver jubilee of Dialogue Partnership between India and ASEAN, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake her first visit of the year to three southeast Asian countries — Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore — from January 4 to 8.

On the first leg of the visit, Swaraj will be in Thailand on January 4 and 5, where she will hold an official meeting with Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, who will also host a dinner.

“All aspects of bilateral relations with Thailand will be discussed with particular focus on political, defence and economic ties and on further enhancing India’s engagement with ASEAN countries,” a Ministry of External Affairs official said. Thailand will assume the role of coordinator country for India-ASEAN relations in the middle of 2018.

During the visit to Indonesia on January 5-6, Swaraj will co-chair the 5th meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Commission with her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. The Indonesian Foreign Minister will also host a banquet.