Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos, Thongsavan Phomvihane, who is currently on an official visit to India, met with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. Both sides emphasized the potential for enhanced collaboration in trade, investment, and technology.
Civilizational Ties and Diplomatic Milestone
President Murmu welcomed Phomvihane on his first visit to India, noting that India and Laos share close civilizational bonds, reflected in their common heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which the President described as a significant milestone in bilateral ties.
Fresh Momentum from Recent Summit
The President recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Laos in October 2024 to attend ASEAN-related summits, during which several agreements were concluded, giving fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation. She expressed satisfaction with the growing development partnership, which aligns with the aspirations of Lao youth and the country's socio-economic development needs.
Trade and Investment Potential
On trade, President Murmu acknowledged that bilateral trade has grown but stressed that there remains considerable scope for further progress in both trade and investment. She reiterated India's willingness to expand cooperation with Laos in areas such as information and communication technology (ICT), health, medicine, agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, renewable energy, and electricity.
Knowledge Sharing and Innovation
India is keen to share its experiences in innovation and the knowledge-based economy, the President added. The two leaders agreed that close cooperation between India and Laos can bring immense benefits to the peoples of both countries, according to an official release.
Phomvihane arrived in India on June 1 and his visit concludes on June 3. The Rashtrapati Bhavan shared details of the meeting on social media, highlighting the civilizational ties and the significance of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
