President Droupadi Murmu has said that India and Lao PDR share close civilisational ties, reflected in common heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana. She added that this year both nations are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which is a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship.

 

Welcoming Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, Thongsavan Phomvihane, yesterday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu noted that in October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lao PDR to participate in the ASEAN-related Summits. During the visit, several agreements were concluded, giving fresh momentum to cooperation between both nations.

 

The President said that while bilateral trade between India and Lao PDR has grown, there remains considerable scope for further progress in trade and investment. She said India would be happy to expand cooperation with Lao PDR in areas including information and communication technology, health, medicine, agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, renewable energy and electricity.

 

The President also expressed happiness that the development partnership between the two countries has become even stronger and is aligned with the aspirations of Lao youth and the country’s socio-economic development needs. The two leaders agreed that close cooperation between the two nations can bring immense benefits to their peoples.