<p>Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday became the third consecutive leader from South East Asia to be the chief guest at India's Republic Day parade.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Shinawatra, who took over the reins of the Thai government in August 2011 at age 44, is in India on a two-day state visit beginning Wednesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.<br /><br />This is her first visit to India as prime minister.Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a military veteran himself, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak were chief guests at the 2011 and 2010 Republic Day parades.<br /><br />This is only the second time in over five decades that a woman head of state or government is the chief guest. Queen Elizabeth II was in India in 1961 as chief guest. <br /><br />A businesswoman-cum-politician, Shinawatra is Thailand's first woman prime minister. <br />Shinawatra is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, senior officials and a business delegation.</p>
<p>Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday became the third consecutive leader from South East Asia to be the chief guest at India's Republic Day parade.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Shinawatra, who took over the reins of the Thai government in August 2011 at age 44, is in India on a two-day state visit beginning Wednesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.<br /><br />This is her first visit to India as prime minister.Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a military veteran himself, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak were chief guests at the 2011 and 2010 Republic Day parades.<br /><br />This is only the second time in over five decades that a woman head of state or government is the chief guest. Queen Elizabeth II was in India in 1961 as chief guest. <br /><br />A businesswoman-cum-politician, Shinawatra is Thailand's first woman prime minister. <br />Shinawatra is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, senior officials and a business delegation.</p>
