‘A Decade Of Act East Policy’: PM Modi To Visit Laos For ASEAN-India Summit And 19th East Asia Summit

At the invitation of Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, PM Modi will visit Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 10-11 October 2024. (Image: MEA)

Modi's visit would be packed with summit-level talks, bilateral meetings and a lot of colour and culture

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Laos for a two-day visit starting October 10 for the ASEAN-India Summit and 19th East Asia Summit. PM Modi will be in Vientiane on the invitation of Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao, the current chair of ASEAN.

ASEAN-India Summit

“India is marking a decade of the Act East Policy this year. Relations with ASEAN are a central pillar of the Act East Policy and our Indo-Pacific vision. The ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement, announcing Modi’s visit.

For the Laos trip, Modi’s schedule is packed with summit-level talks, bilateral meetings, and cultural events. Upon arrival, he would be welcomed by senior Buddhist monks. Later he will also be participating in the special screening of Laos Ramayana. During the two-day visit, PM Modi will also engage with the Indian diaspora and will hold several bilateral meetings.

Act East Policy

His visit comes as India marks a decade of Act East Policy this year. During this decade, the engagements between India and ASEAN have grown stronger in trade and investment, defence and security. This year also marks important anniversaries of the establishment of India’s diplomatic relations with several countries in the region – 75th with Indonesia, 75th with the Philippines, 60th with Singapore and 40th with Brunei.

In the first 100 days of his third term, PM Modi received the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, and Malaysia in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister visited Brunei and Singapore and had fruitful discussions with the leadership. Prime Minister’s visit to Brunei was the first ever bilateral visit to the country by an Indian Prime Minister. The President of India also travelled to Timor-Leste for the first-ever Head of State visit from India. Each of these visits witnessed the signing and exchange of several agreements and some significant announcements.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, MEA said the ASEAN-India Summit will review the progress of India-ASEAN relations through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation. The East Asia Summit, a premier leaders-led forum that contributes to building an environment of strategic trust in the region, provides an opportunity for leaders of EAS Participating Countries, including India, to exchange views on issues of regional importance, it added.