Jaishankar said that for India, ASEAN is the cornerstone of its Act East policy and the Indo Pacific vision that was built on it and the people-to-people linkages that India is constantly seeking to expand
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Vientiane, noted the current complex international landscape and suggested that, as two major neighbouring developing countries, India and China should step up dialogue and communication.
"Arrived in Vientiane, Laos to take part in the ASEAN-mechanism meetings. Look forward to further deepen India's ties with ASEAN as we mark a decade of Act East Policy," said EAM Jaishankar in a post on X.
US State Secretary Antony Blinken will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi next week in Laos as the country prepares to host senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reported Voice of America (VOA).
Continuing with its massive crackdown in a human trafficking and cyber frauds case relating to Laos and other Southeast Asian countries, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested four key accused from Delhi, the agency said on Tuesday.
A recent report suggests that the country's debt has nearly doubled, reaching USD 950 million in 2023, up from USD 507 million in 2022. The majority of this debt is owed to China, according to local news outlet, The Laotian Times.
In the deepening of India-Laos ties, apart from years of bilateral engagements, shared cultural linkages and heritage between the two nations have played a significant role.
As Laos continues to position itself as a premier tourist destination, supported by enhanced connectivity and collaborative efforts with India, both countries anticipate a fruitful partnership that will further enrich their cultural and economic ties.
India attaches high priority to ASEAN's theme of enhancing connectivity and resilience, under the chairmanship of Laos, and is working with the partner countries in promoting connectivity in the region, the Indian Ambassador to Lao PDR, Prashant Agrawal said on Sunday.