On October 11, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone held discussions aimed at enhancing India-Laos relations. The meeting took place during Modi’s visit for the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits and focused on key areas like economic development, defence cooperation, capacity building, and heritage conservation.
The leaders emphasized the importance of the India-Laos partnership, which is rooted in shared cultural and historical ties. One of the central topics was the restoration of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with support from India’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), highlighting India’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Modi also announced a $1 million grant to improve nutrition security in Laos, marking the first such initiative under the India-U.N. Development Partnership Fund in Southeast Asia. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, covering areas such as defence, broadcasting, and customs cooperation.
Additionally, three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) were launched to promote Laos’ Ramayan heritage, restore the Wat Pakea Buddhist temple, and support shadow puppetry in Champasak province. These projects, each funded with $50,000 from India, strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations.
In conclusion, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between India and Laos in regional and multilateral forums like ASEAN. India reaffirmed its strong support for Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship in 2024. The discussions highlighted the commitment of both nations to further enhance their strategic partnership, deepening cooperation across economic, cultural, and defence sectors.
Author: Ms.Aashna Gupta, Student Economics honors with Political Science, Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi