Vice-president Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Brunei and Thailand from February 1 to carry forward India’s bilateral engagements with the two Southeast Asian countries.
Vice-president Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Brunei and Thailand from February 1 to carry forward India’s bilateral engagements with the two Southeast Asian countries. The high-level visit is part of India’s Act East policy.
The vice-president is going to Brunei first at the invitation of crown prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs Anil Wadhwa told reporters. This will be the first-ever visit to Brunei by an Indian vice-president since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1984.
Dr Ansari will hold 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, Mr Wadhwa said.
Cooperation in Asean and East Asia Summit and other multilateral fora will also be on the agenda, he said, adding a couple of MoUs on health and defence cooperation will also be signed during Dr Ansari’s visit. He will deliver an address at the University of Brunei Darussalam and meet the Indian community.
Brunei is home to around 10,000 Indian expatriates and most of the professionals there are doctors and teachers. The country is an important partner for India in Asean and exports crude oil and petroleum products, Mr Wadhwa said.
From Brunei, Dr Ansari will go to Thailand on February 3 at the invitation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, making it the first visit by an Indian vice-president after a gap of 50 years. In Thailand, he will hold talks with Mr Chan-o-cha.
On the last day of his stay in Thailand, Ansari will make a brief visit to the city of Chiang Mai, near Myanmar, where its Governor will host a banquet in his honour. He will also visit the Royal Development Study Centre.
