Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, on Friday in Vientiane to discuss ways to strengthen the relationship between India and Laos. Their discussions touched on various aspects of bilateral cooperation, from cultural and historical ties to contemporary collaborations in key sectors.
Focus on Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
The talks between the two leaders covered several areas, including development partnership, disaster management, renewable energy, heritage conservation, economic collaboration, and defense. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions aimed at enhancing civilizational and modern ties between the two nations.
“Prime Minister Siphandone thanked Prime Minister for India’s flood relief assistance provided to Lao PDR in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi,” the MEA said. The leaders also highlighted the ongoing Indian-led restoration of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a testament to the strong cultural connection between India and Laos.
Participation in ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Laos on Thursday to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, following an invitation from Laotian Prime Minister Siphandone. During their meeting, PM Modi congratulated the Laotian Prime Minister for successfully hosting the summits. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with their countries’ close cooperation in regional and global forums.
PM Siphandone also acknowledged India’s significant role on the international stage and welcomed India’s strong support for Laos, as the nation prepares to assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024.
Agreements and Memorandums Signed
In the presence of both leaders, several agreements were signed, including those related to defense, broadcasting, customs cooperation, and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. The three QIPs include the preservation of the Lao Ramayan heritage, restoration of the Wat Pakea Buddhist temple featuring Ramayan murals, and support for shadow puppetry in Champasak province. Each project will receive a grant of approximately USD 50,000 from the Government of India (GoI).
India’s Assistance for Nutrition Security
In addition to the cultural projects, India pledged a grant of around USD 1 million to improve nutrition security in Laos. This assistance will be provided through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and marks the first such project by the Fund in Southeast Asia.
This meeting and the agreements exchanged reflect the ongoing commitment of India and Laos to work together on a wide range of issues, from cultural preservation to modern development initiatives.