India, Laos sign pacts on defence, customs, preservation of heritage

India and Laos today signed pacts focusing on defence cooperation, customs collaboration and the preservation of cultural and religious heritage, including the centuries-old Lao version of the epic Ramayana and the restoration of a Buddhist temple.

The agreements were signed following bilateral talks between PM Narendra Modi and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane, Laos on Friday.

PM Modi interacts with Blinken

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday briefly interacted with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in the Laotian capital.
• During the meeting, Modi extended his condolences on the loss of lives due to Hurricane Milton in the US and also discussed strengthening bilateral ties. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together on global issues

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, “Following the talks, MoUs and agreements in the fields of defence, broadcasting, customs cooperation and three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders.”

The three QIPs are aimed at the preservation of the Lao Ramayana, known locally as Phalak Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram; the restoration of the Wat Pakea Buddhist temple, which features murals related to the Ramayana; and support for the shadow puppetry theatre on Ramayana in Champasak province. All three projects are supported by a Government of India grant of $50,000 each.

PM Modi had witnessed a performance of the Lao Ramayana by the Royal Theatre of Luang Prabang during his visit. The Ramayana continues to be a celebrated cultural tradition in Laos.

The two leaders also acknowledged the ongoing restoration and conservation efforts at Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under Indian assistance through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), noting that this cooperation imparts a special dimension to their bilateral ties. In addition, India will provide a grant of approximately $1 million to improve nutrition security in Laos. This assistance, provided through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, marks the fund’s first project in Southeast Asia.

PM Siphandone also expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for India’s flood relief assistance to Laos following the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi last month.

Modi also met New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon which was the first meeting between the two leaders. He welcomed New Zealand's decision to join the International Solar Alliance and also extended an invitation to Luxon to visit India on mutually convenient dates.