Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Laos for a two-day visit starting October 10 for the ASEAN-India Summit and 19th East Asia Summit. PM Modi will be in Vientiane on the invitation of Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao, the current chair of ASEAN.
“India is marking a decade of the Act East Policy this year. Relations with ASEAN are a central pillar of the Act East Policy and our Indo-Pacific vision. The ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement, announcing Modi’s visit.
For the Laos trip, Modi’s schedule is packed with summit-level talks, bilateral meetings, and cultural events. Upon arrival, he would be welcomed by senior Buddhist monks. During the two-day visit, PM Modi will engage with the Indian diaspora and will hold several bilateral meetings. He will also be participating in the special screening of Laos Ramayana.
Phra Pak Phra Ram is the national epic of the Lao people, an adaptation of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. The introduction of the Phra Ram Xadok is attributed to the first king of Lan Xang, Chao Fa Ngoum. The Lao Ramayana, known as Phalak-Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram, is the Lao adaptation of the ancient epic Ramayana (or Ramakien, as it is popularly known in Southeast Asia).
Act East Policy
India’s Prime Minister, Modi, has visited several ASEAN countries, including Brunei and Singapore, to mark the tenth anniversary of the Act East Policy. The engagements between India and ASEAN have grown stronger in trade, investment, defence, and security.
The Prime Minister also visited Brunei for the first time, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister. The ASEAN-India Summit will review India-ASEAN relations through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation.
The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on regional issues. These visits have witnessed the signing and exchange of several agreements and significant announcements.
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Source: NEWS18
