Malayasia PM Mahatir Mohamad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra and discussed ways to improve trade ties and boost cultural linkages between the two nations. Prime Minister Modi is in Laos on a two-day visit to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits. Modi met Shinawatra on the sidelines of the East Asia summit. "Met PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Lao PDR. Thailand is a deeply valued friend of India's," Modi said in a post on X. "Our talks were focused on how to improve trade ties between our nations and to boost cultural linkages. We also see great scope in sectors like defence, shipping, digital innovations and more," he said. Shinawatra became Thailand Prime Minister in August this year.

Last month, India restricted imports of refined palm oil and asked importers to avoid purchases from Malaysia after its criticism of India's actions in Kashmir and a new citizenship law

On Monday, the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEAI) asked its members to stop buying palm oil from Malaysia

Sources said India is looking for options to reduce import from Malaysia in a retaliatory action against PM Mahathir Bin Mohamad's recent call in the UN on India's abrogation of Article 370 in J&K

Mahathir made clear he wouldn't be lenient after a bitter and intensely personal election campaign.