India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy complement each other: says Narendra Modi in his SAMVAD address

Underlining the deep cultural ties shared by India and Thailand, spanning over two thousand years, the Prime Minister remarked that the Ramayana and Ramakien connect the two nations and that their shared reverence for Bhagwan Buddha unites them.

Modi delivered his remarks, during the SAMVAD programme organised in Thailand, via video message..

Addressing the gathering, he expressed his honour of joining the edition of SAMVAD in Thailand, commending the distinguished institutions and individuals from India, Japan, and Thailand for making the event possible.

Modi highlighted another cause of conflict—perceiving others as fundamentally different from ourselves.

He remarked that differences lead to distance, and distance can turn into discord.

To counter this, he cited a verse from the Dhammapada, which states that everyone fears pain and death.

He emphasized that by recognizing others as similar to ourselves, we can ensure that no harm or violence occurs.

He added that if these words are followed, conflict can be avoided.

“Many of the world’s issues stem from taking extreme positions rather than a balanced approach," said Modi.

He highlighted that extreme views lead to conflicts, environmental crises, and even stress-related health problems.

He emphasized that the solution to these challenges lies in the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha, who urged us to follow the Middle Path and avoid extremes.

"The principle of moderation, he noted, remains relevant today and offers guidance in addressing global challenges," he said.

Remarking that Nalanda Mahavihara was one of the greatest universities in history, destroyed centuries ago by the forces of conflict, the Prime Minister emphasized that India has shown resilience by reviving it as a center of learning and expressed confidence that Nalanda University will regain its former glory with the blessings of Bhagwan Buddha.

He highlighted the significant step taken to promote Pali, the language in which Bhagwan Buddha delivered his teachings, by declaring it a classical language to ensure the preservation of its literature.

He also mentioned the launch of the Gyan Bharatam mission to identify and catalog ancient manuscripts, encouraging documentation and digitalization for the benefit of scholars of Buddhism.