Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his visit to Lao PDR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day official visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) on 11 October 2024. Prime Minister Modi was in Lao PDR on 10 and 11 October 2024 to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit meeting.

Lao PDR, being the chairman of the 10-member ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations), hosted the 44&45th ASEAN Summit meeting, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (ASEAN-China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), and the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit meeting.

All these meetings were held in the Lao PDR capital city of Vientiane.

The Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone invited Prime Minister Modi to visit LAO PDR and attend the relevant summit meeting.

PM Modi's witness Lao’s Ramayana Phra Lak Phra Ram

Prime Minister Modi attended Lao’s version of Ramanaya, enacted by the prestigious Royal Theatre of Luang Prabang in Vientiane. Ramayana in Lao is called as  Phalak Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram. Indian culture strongly influences Southeast Asian countries, and the Ramayana is part of local culture in Indonesia and Malaysia.

India &Lao PDR to Strengthen Bilateral Relations 

Prime Minister Modi met with Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and held bilateral talks. Both leaders agreed to strengthen their bilateral relationships, and a number of agreements/MoUs were signed between India and the Lao PDR to strengthen these relationships.

• India will provide USD 1 million to Lao PDR through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to improve nutrition security in Lao PDR through food fortification. 
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries to promote Defence Cooperation.
• MoU between Prasar Bharti and Lao National Television,
• An agreement was signed between the two countries to promote Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters between the two countries.
• Agreement on Preservation of the heritage of performing art of Phalak-Phalam. 
• Renovation of Wat Phakea Temple in Luang Prabang Province of Lao PDR.
• Preservation of Shadow Puppet Theater's Performance in Champasak Province of Lao PDR.

21st ASEAN-India Summit Meeting at Vientiane 

The 21st ASEAN-India Summit meeting was held in Vientiane on October 10, 2024.

The summit meeting also marked the 10th year of the Modi government's Act East Policy. The meeting was attended by the leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries and the ASEAN observer country, Timor Leste.

The first India-ASEAN summit meeting was held in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, in 2022, and since then, it has been held every year.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.’

During the meeting, the leaders agreed on a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) that will guide both sides in realising the full potential of the ASEAN-India partnership.

The relationships between India and ASEAN were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership level.

During his speech, the Prime Minister announced a 10-point plan to further the relationship between the ASEAN and India. Some of the important ones are:

• Celebrate 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, for which India will contribute USD 5 million.
• Number of scholarships for ASEAN students to study at Nalanda University, Bihar to be doubled.
• India will offer scholarships for ASEAN students at Indian Agricultural Universities.
• India will provide USD 5 million to enhance disaster resilience in the ASEAN countries.
• India -ASEAN to start a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue to strengthen Digital and Cyber Resilience.

19th East Asia Summit Meeting 

The 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) Meeting was held in Vientiane on 11 October 2024. It was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the 18 members of the East Asian Summit group. The United States was represented by the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

EAS members are the 10 member countries of  ASEAN  and the partner countries of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States of America.

The East Asia Summit was established by ASEAN in 2005 to further strategic and economic cooperation between ASEAN, the regional power, and the resident power—the United States of America and Russia. 

India- ASEAN Relation 

• The Narasimha Rao government initiated the Look East Policy in 1992, which sought to increase trade and investment with ASEAN countries. 
• In 2014, Prime Minister Modi's government launched the Act East Policy, which expanded the scope of the previous Look East Policy. 
• The Act East Policy focused on the entire Indo-Pacific area, with ASEAN at its centre. It aims to enhance commerce, culture, and connectivity with the region.
• Since 1992, the India-ASEAN relationship has evolved from being ASEAN's sectoral partner to ASEAN's dialogue partner in 1996.
• In 1996, India was made a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

• The relationship was further upgraded to the Summit level in 2002, and in 2012, it was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership.
• In 2024, the relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• In 2010, India became a founding member of the ADMM(ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting ) Plus Forum.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), along with the European Union, is considered one of the most successful regional organisations in the world.

It consists of 10 members of the Southeast Asian nations and was founded in 1967.

Members: Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.

Observer Status- Timor Leste 

Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia