Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Vientiane, Laos, for a two-day visit to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit. He was greeted with a guard of honour and met with Vilayvong Bouddakham, Laos’ Minister of Home Affairs.
Before his departure, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of the East Asia Summit as a forum for discussing Indo-Pacific peace and security. This year commemorates a decade of India’s Act East Policy, which has strengthened ties with ASEAN countries, particularly Laos, through common cultural linkages like Buddhism and the Ramayana.
During the visit, he will evaluate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN and talk about future collaboration. He expressed confidence in further expanding bilateral relations with Laos, saying, “I look forward to my meetings with the Lao PDR leadership to deepen our bilateral ties.”
The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the East Asia Summit’s importance in developing strategic confidence and offering a forum for regional leaders to discuss critical concerns. The ASEAN-India Summit will assess developments in India-ASEAN ties and identify potential areas for collaboration.
PM Modi’s visit highlights ASEAN’s significance in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision, which prioritises regional security through the SAGAR program.
