Later this week External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Vientiane, Lao PDR, to participate in the ASEAN framework meetings, including the ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS), and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
According to the Ministry of External Affairs the minister is visiting from July 25-27, upon the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, Saleumxay Kommasith. This underscores India’s strong commitment to ASEAN unity and centrality and also highlights India’s dedication to advancing the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and promoting the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). It is particularly significant as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of India’s Act East Policy, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014.
Agenda
During his stay in Vientiane, Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related meetings. These engagements are expected to further bolster India’s diplomatic relations and collaborative efforts within the region.
India-ASEAN
ASEAN, a political and economic union of 10 Southeast Asian nations, continues to strengthen its ties with India. The Director General of the ASEAN department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), Chatoulong Bouasisavath, emphasized India’s value as a partner to ASEAN in an earlier statement this month.
India recently announced its collaboration with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to operationalize a real-time payments linkage system, following its successful implementation with Singapore. This initiative is a testament to India’s commitment to enhancing regional economic integration and connectivity.
Act East Policy is Ten years Old
This year marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy, with ASEAN being a central pillar. India has reiterated its full support for ASEAN Centrality, AOIP, and Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship’s priorities under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”
In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Indonesia, marking the first summit since the elevation of ties between India and ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
Minister’s visit to Lao PDR is a significant step in reinforcing India’s commitment to ASEAN and its strategic partnerships within the region. Through these engagements, India aims to strengthen regional cooperation, economic integration, and collective resilience, fostering a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.