ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the India-Thailand partnership and discusses the way towards greater cooperation between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India. In terms of socio-cultural aspects, India has forged cooperation at sub-regional groupings such as the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and the Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. While China began cultivating extensive trade and economic relations with Asian nations, India sought to establish economic and commercial ties, increase strategic and security cooperation, and strengthen cultural links. India became a sectoral dialogue partner with ASEAN in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1995, a member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996, and a Summit level partner in 2002. ASEAN has agreed to develop an ASEAN-India Tourism Cooperation Arrangement and requested the ASEAN-India Tourism Working Group to further discuss and prepare the draft agreement.
