Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Vientiane on Thursday, where he is set to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summits.
Upon his arrival, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by Laos’ Minister of Home Affairs, Vilayvong Bouddakham, and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
The Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Laos comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, as both nations seek to enhance their bilateral relations.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed PM Modi’s arrival with a post on X, featuring images of the welcome ceremony: “Sabaidee Laos! PM @narendramodi arrives in Vientiane, Lao PDR to a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Warmly welcomed by Minister of Home Affairs of Laos, Mr. Vilayvong Bouddakham.”
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Landed in Lao PDR. Looking forward to the deliberations with various world leaders.” This year marks the tenth anniversary of India’s Act East Policy, underscoring the significance of this visit.
During his stay, Prime Minister Modi is expected to engage in several bilateral meetings alongside the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit. Ahead of his departure, he said, “This year we are marking a decade of our Act East Policy. I will join the ASEAN leaders to review progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of our cooperation.”
He added that the East Asia Summit presents an opportunity to address challenges related to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting the cultural and civilizational ties between India and Laos, enriched by their shared heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana.
PM Modi is scheduled to meet with Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone for a bilateral discussion. The ASEAN-India Summit aims to assess the progress of India-ASEAN relations through their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and outline future cooperation strategies.
(Inputs from ANI)
