After ‘Howdy Modi’ in Houston, it’s ‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ in Bangkok

Prime
Minister Narendra Modi left on Saturday morning for a 3-day visit to Thailand
to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East
Asia, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summits, during
the visit.

The PM is
also scheduled to address the Indian community in Bangkok at an event titled
‘Sawasdee PM Modi’ at 6pm.

‘Sawasdee PM
Modi’ is being organized by Thai Indians, in close coordination with the Indian
Embassy in Bangkok. “Sawasdee” is the word Thai people for greetings and
goodbye. It is derived from Sanskrit word svasti (well-being’).

The event
comes after the mega September 23 event in Houston, Howdy Modi, which attracted
more than 50,000 people. US president Donald Trump was also present at the
event

PM Modi will
also release a commemorative coin marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru
Nanak Dev, as well as the Thai translation of Tamil classic ‘Tirukkural’, the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

On November
3, Prime Minister Modi will co-chair the 16th ASEAN-India summit alongside Thai
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. “The ASEAN-related summits are an integral
part of our diplomatic calendar. This will be Prime Minister Modi’s seventh
ASEAN-India summit and sixth East Asia Summit,” the MEA said.

In a statement before his departure, the Prime Minister said that during the visit, he will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of other world leaders present in the Thailand capital for related summit meetings.

“The
ASEAN-related summits are an integral part of our diplomatic calendar, and an
important element in our Act East Policy.

“Our
partnership with ASEAN is built around the key pillars of connectivity,
capacity-building, commerce and culture,” he said.