Vajpayee looks East, floors Thai House

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee became the first foreign leader to address the National Assembly of Thailand this evening, symbolising the conv...

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee became the first foreign leader to address the National Assembly of Thailand this evening, symbolising the convergence of India’s ‘‘Look East’’ and Thailand’s ‘‘Look West’’ policy that was taken forward with detailed talks and the signing of several agreements between the two countries earlier in the day.

In his address to the National Assembly, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate, Vajpayee stressed his own long parliamentary innings which had led to his appreciation ‘‘of the precious gift of parliamentary democracy which both India and Thailand enjoy’’.

He pointed out that Parliament had been ‘‘a second home’’ for him for 46 years of which 40 years were spent in the Opposition benches — ‘‘so I can speak with knowledge of both sides’’.

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Asserting that India had rejuvenated its policy of upgrading ties with its eastern neighbours, he said Thailand was an important link to East and Southeast Asia and New Delhi was determined to increase ‘‘our mutually beneficial partnership both bilaterally and multilaterally’’.

Details on how to enhance this partnership formed the substance of the talks held between Vajpayee and Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra this morning which was followed by delegation level talks and the signing of five agreements.

Standing ovation

Bangkok: The applause was loud and long when the PM entered the National Assembly of Thailand on Thursday evening. For Vajpayee, used to angry interjections, the Thai Assembly must have seemed like a gathering of meek schoolkids. And he wouldn’t be wrong.

Long before he arrived, the Speaker of the Assembly gave running instructions to members that could be heard even outside the chamber. The instructions, according to our interpreter, were: ‘‘You all must stand up, you must clap loudly when he enters, you must not stop clapping till he sits down, he has weak knees and walks slowly, so you must keep clapping till he reaches his seat.” And they followed his instructions fully, if somewhat expressionlessly. —ENS

Sporting Bangkok

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Bangkok: The new Asian cooperation is not all about trade treaties, tariff rates and joint investments – it is also about fun and games. The PM first injected the sporting spirit when he suggested the idea of ‘‘a motorcar rally’’ at the India-ASEAN summit.

The motor rally that would traverse India and the 10 ASEAN nations would serve to enthuse the youth, Vajpayee said. Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra mooted a soccer tournament to enhance ties between the five nation BIMST-EC comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Vajpayee agreed to the suggestion. Yashwant Sinha, briefing the press, added: ‘‘Now that we are champions in hockey, we could extend it to other games as well.’’ —ENS