India and Lao PDR Deepen Civilizational and Development Partnership as Lao Foreign Minister Meets President Murmu

The diplomatic relationship between India and Lao PDR received fresh momentum on 3 June 2026 as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, H.E. Mr. Thongsavan Phomvihane, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The meeting came at a symbolic moment, as the two countries are marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, turning the occasion into more than a formal exchange. It reflected a relationship built on shared culture, regional cooperation and a growing development agenda.

President Murmu welcomed Mr. Phomvihane on his first visit to India and highlighted the deep civilizational links between India and Lao PDR. Buddhism and the Ramayana form two important cultural bridges between the peoples of both countries, connecting them through memory, faith, literature and heritage. These links give the bilateral relationship a depth that goes beyond diplomacy and trade, creating a natural foundation for long-term cooperation.

The meeting also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lao PDR in October 2024 for the ASEAN-related summits. That visit had given a strong push to India’s engagement with Lao PDR and the wider ASEAN region. During the visit, both sides exchanged agreements and memoranda in areas including defence, broadcasting, customs cooperation and Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework. The projects included support for the preservation of Lao Ramayan heritage, restoration of Wat Pakea Buddhist temple murals linked to the Ramayan, and assistance for shadow puppetry theatre in Champasak province.

India’s engagement with Lao PDR fits into the larger Act East vision, where Southeast Asia is treated as a strategic, cultural and economic neighbourhood. At the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane in October 2024, India underlined ASEAN centrality, regional connectivity and cooperation in areas such as tourism, knowledge partnership, fintech, science and technology, and trade. This wider regional setting gives India-Lao PDR ties a larger geopolitical meaning, especially as both countries work through ASEAN-linked platforms and the Mekong-Ganga framework.

Economic cooperation was another important part of the discussion. President Murmu noted that bilateral trade between India and Lao PDR has grown, while also pointing out that both countries have considerable scope to expand trade and investment further. This is significant because Lao PDR occupies an important location in mainland Southeast Asia, while India brings strengths in manufacturing, digital technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, renewable energy and capacity building.

The President also identified several practical sectors where India is ready to deepen cooperation with Lao PDR. These include information and communication technology, health, medicine, agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, renewable energy and electricity. India also expressed interest in sharing its experience in innovation and the knowledge-based economy. These areas are important because they directly support Lao PDR’s socio-economic development needs while opening space for Indian expertise, technology and training.

Development partnership remains one of the strongest pillars of India-Lao PDR relations. The latest meeting underlined that India’s cooperation is aligned with the aspirations of Lao youth and the country’s development priorities. In October 2024, India had also announced grant assistance of about USD 1 million to improve nutrition security in Lao PDR through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, making it the Fund’s first such project in Southeast Asia.

The meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan therefore carried three messages. First, India and Lao PDR are using their 70-year diplomatic milestone to renew political warmth. Second, the two countries are placing cultural heritage at the heart of their modern relationship. Third, the partnership is moving into practical sectors such as health, agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology and youth-focused development. Both sides agreed that closer cooperation can bring real benefits to their people, giving the relationship a clear people-centric direction for the coming years.