Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, Thongsavan Phomvihane, has arrived in India to co-chair the 10th India-Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The high-level visit marks a significant milestone as both nations commemorate seven decades of formal bilateral engagement.
Warm Welcome and Strategic Significance
The MEA stated on Monday that the visit underscores the enduring partnership between India and Laos. A warm welcome was extended to the Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who is on his first visit to India for this important dialogue. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will co-chair the meeting with his Lao counterpart.
The ministry emphasised that the ongoing visit will provide a major boost to the existing historical ties and shared strategic objectives between the two countries. India and Lao PDR are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties, and the visit is expected to add momentum to the longstanding partnership, further deepening cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
Resumption of Institutional Dialogue
The institutional dialogue mechanism resumes after a hiatus of several years. The ninth Joint Commission Meeting on Bilateral Cooperation between Laos and India was held on November 23, 2018, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The current meeting aims to review and enhance bilateral relations.
Previous High-Level Engagements
The high-level interaction follows the foundational discussions held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, in Vientiane in October 2024. During that meeting, Prime Minister Siphandone expressed gratitude to PM Modi for India's flood relief assistance provided to Lao PDR in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, highlighting New Delhi's role as a reliable partner during humanitarian crises.
Furthermore, the two leaders noted that the restoration and conservation of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under Indian assistance by the Archaeological Survey of India, imparts a special dimension to bilateral ties. The two prime ministers also expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation between the countries in regional and multilateral fora, while PM Siphandone reaffirmed India's role on the international stage.
Agreements and Cultural Projects
Following the bilateral talks, memoranda of understanding and agreements in the fields of defence, broadcasting, customs cooperation, and three Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders. The Quick Impact Projects relate to the preservation of the heritage of Lao Ramayan, the restoration of Wat Pakea Buddhist temple with murals related to Ramayan, and support for the shadow puppetry theatre on Ramayan in Champasak province. Each of these projects has a Government of India grant assistance of about USD 50,000 to help preserve the shared civilisational heritage.
The visit of Deputy Prime Minister Thongsavan Phomvihane is expected to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Laos, building on a rich history of cultural and diplomatic ties.
