Lao FM Thongsavan arrives in India for 10th Joint Commission Meeting
Synopsis
For the first time in nearly seven years, India and Lao PDR are reviving their Joint Commission mechanism — and doing so in a milestone year that marks seven decades of diplomatic ties. FM Thongsavan's New Delhi visit signals a deliberate push to translate cultural and heritage cooperation into a broader strategic partnership under India's Act East Policy.
Key Takeaways
Thongsavan Phomvihane , Deputy PM and FM of Lao PDR , arrived in New Delhi on 1 June for the 10th India–Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting .
The meeting is being co-chaired with External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar — Thongsavan's first visit to India.
India and Lao PDR are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
The last Joint Commission Meeting was held on 23 November 2018 in Vientiane — a gap of nearly seven years .
Three Quick Impact Projects worth approximately USD 50,000 each focus on Ramayan heritage , temple restoration, and shadow puppetry in Champasak .
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is assisting in restoring Vat Phou , a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Thongsavan Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, arrived in New Delhi on 1 June to co-chair the 10th India–Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed. The visit carries added significance as India and Lao PDR mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
What the Visit Signals
The MEA, in a post on X, described the visit as Thongsavan's first trip to India and said it would 'add momentum to the longstanding partnership' while deepening cooperation across areas of mutual interest. The last Joint Commission Meeting was held on 23 November 2018 in Vientiane, making this the first such bilateral mechanism in nearly seven years.
Modi–Siphandone Summit: The Foundation
The current diplomatic push builds on a bilateral summit held in Vientiane in October 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. During that meeting, Prime Minister Siphandone thanked PM Modi for India's flood relief assistance following Typhoon Yagi. The two leaders also reviewed progress on the restoration of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being carried out under Indian assistance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Agreements and Cultural Cooperation
The October 2024 summit produced a set of agreements spanning defence, broadcasting, and customs cooperation, alongside three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation framework. Each QIP carries a Government of India grant of approximately USD 50,000. The projects cover the preservation of the Lao Ramayan heritage, restoration of Wat Pakea Buddhist temple — which houses murals depicting the Ramayan — and support for shadow puppetry theatre on the Ramayan in Champasak province.
Regional and Multilateral Dimension
Both sides have expressed satisfaction at their cooperation in regional and multilateral forums. Prime Minister Siphandone reaffirmed India's role on the international stage during the Vientiane summit. The 10th Joint Commission Meeting is expected to further consolidate this alignment, with outcomes likely to span trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties under India's Act East Policy.
The results of the New Delhi talks are expected to shape the bilateral roadmap for the coming years, with sectoral cooperation agreements potentially in the pipeline.
Point of View
And a lapse of that length suggests India–Lao ties have coasted on cultural goodwill rather than structured diplomacy. The revival in a milestone year — 70 years of ties — is well-timed optics, but the test is whether New Delhi can translate Ramayan-heritage QIPs and Vat Phou restoration into tangible trade and connectivity outcomes. With ASEAN centrality under pressure and China's footprint in the Mekong sub-region deepening, India's Act East Policy needs more than symbolic gestures to hold ground in Laos.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lao FM Thongsavan Phomvihane visiting India?
Thongsavan Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, is visiting New Delhi to co-chair the 10th India–Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The visit also marks 70 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
When was the last India–Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting held?
The previous, 9th Joint Commission Meeting on Bilateral Cooperation was held on 23 November 2018 in Vientiane, Lao PDR — making the current meeting the first such engagement in nearly seven years.
What agreements were signed at the India–Lao summit in October 2024?
At the Vientiane summit in October 2024, India and Lao PDR signed agreements on defence, broadcasting, and customs cooperation. Three Quick Impact Projects under the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation framework were also exchanged, each backed by a Government of India grant of approximately USD 50,000.
What are the Quick Impact Projects between India and Lao PDR?
The three Quick Impact Projects focus on preserving the Lao Ramayan heritage, restoring the Wat Pakea Buddhist temple — which features Ramayan murals — and supporting shadow puppetry theatre on the Ramayan in Champasak province. Each project receives approximately USD 50,000 in grant assistance from the Government of India.
What is India's role in restoring Vat Phou in Lao PDR?
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is assisting in the restoration and conservation of Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Lao PDR. Both Prime Ministers noted at their October 2024 meeting that this heritage cooperation imparts a special dimension to bilateral ties.
