BIMSTEC: Dr Yunus and Modi join official dinner, meet each other

Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday hosted an official dinner for BIMSTEC leaders where Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met each other, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told UNB.

The Thai prime minister welcomed the BIMSTEC leaders and exchanged pleasantries at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel. She made a brief remark at the dinner which was followed by a toast.

Dr Yunus posed for a photograph with Thai PM Shinawatra at the official dinner.

He arrived here in the Thai capital on Thursday to join the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit.

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A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the chief adviser and his entourage arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok at 12 pm (Thailand), the deputy press secretary told UNB.

Dr Yunus was received by Thai Minister in Attendance Jiraporn Sindhuprai, he said.

Dr Yunus is scheduled to hold a number of meetings with BIMSTEC leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit on Friday, including meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Thai Prime Minister.

In his pre-departure statement from India, Modi said he will meet the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries to discuss ways for strengthening collaboration, keeping the interests of people in mind.

"I look forward to meeting the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries and engaging productively to further strengthen our collaboration with the interests of our people in mind," Modi said as he began his visit to Thailand and Sri Lanka on Thursday.