Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, H.E. Mr. Thongsavan Phomvihane, called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (June 3, 2026). Welcoming Mr Phomvihane on his first visit to India, the President said that India and Lao PDR share close civilizational ties, reflected in our common heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana.
This year, we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which is a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship. The President noted that in October 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Lao PDR to participate in the ASEAN-related Summits.
During that visit, several agreements were concluded, giving fresh momentum to our cooperation. The President said that bilateral trade between India and Lao PDR has grown, but there remains considerable scope for us to make further progress together in both trade and investment.
The President said that India would be happy to expand cooperation with Lao PDR in areas such as information and communication technology (ICT), health, medicine, agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, renewable energy, and electricity. We are also keen to share our experiences in the fields of innovation and the knowledge-based economy.
The President was happy to note 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 our two countries can bring immense benefits to our peoples.