MoS Pabitra Margherita visits India-funded heritage projects in Laos
Synopsis
India’s MoS for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita visited the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang and witnessed the signing of an MoU for restoring Ramayana-themed murals at Wat Pa Khae Temple — a pointed demonstration of how India is using cultural heritage as a diplomatic instrument across Southeast Asia under its Act East Policy.
Key Takeaways
MoS Pabitra Margherita visited the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang on 29 August .
An MoU was signed between India and Laos for conservation of Ramayana and Jataka -themed murals at Wat Pa Khae Temple with Government of India funding.
Margherita interacted with the Indian diaspora , ITEC , and ICCR alumni in Vientiane , highlighting people-to-people ties.
The Minister inaugurated a performance of Phra Lak Phra Lam , the Lao Ramayana, at the National Theatre, Vientiane , supported by Indian grant assistance.
The visit advances India’s Act East Policy through Quick Impact Projects combining heritage preservation and community development.
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Saturday, 29 August visited the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang in Laos, where Government of India-funded Quick Impact Projects are actively preserving shared civilisational heritage and supporting local communities. The visit underscored India's deepening cultural and diplomatic engagement with Lao PDR under its Act East Policy.
MoU Signed for Temple Mural Conservation
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Laos for the conservation and restoration of mural paintings at Wat Pa Khae Temple, to be carried out with Government of India assistance. Margherita also unveiled a plaque marking the commencement of the project.
The murals, themed around the Ramayana and Jataka stories, are seen as a vivid expression of the deep civilisational and cultural ties between the two nations. “The Ramayana and Jataka-themed paintings beautifully reflect the deep civilizational and cultural connect between India and Laos,” Margherita said.
Engagement with Indian Diaspora and Alumni
Earlier in the day, the Minister interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Laos, acknowledging their role as a “living bridge” in strengthening bilateral ties. He described the community as “an invaluable living bridge” between the two countries.
Margherita also met with alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Vientiane, calling them “the strongest pillars of our bilateral friendship.” The interactions highlighted India’s sustained capacity-building partnerships with Lao PDR and their contribution to people-to-people ties.
Ramayana Performance at National Theatre
The Minister also inaugurated a performance of the iconic Phra Lak Phra Lam — the Lao adaptation of the Ramayana — at the National Theatre in Vientiane. The performance was supported through Indian grant assistance, and Margherita described it as a showcase of “our shared heritage coming alive on stage.”
This comes amid India’s broader push to reinforce cultural diplomacy across Southeast Asia, with Ramayana-linked heritage serving as a consistent thread connecting India to nations including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
India’s Act East Policy in Action
The visit to Luang Prabang and Vientiane reflects the practical implementation of India’s Act East Policy, which prioritises cultural, economic, and strategic engagement with ASEAN nations. Quick Impact Projects — small-scale, community-level initiatives funded by the Government of India — have become a signature tool of this diplomacy, combining heritage preservation with grassroots development. Margherita’s engagements signal that New Delhi views Laos as a meaningful partner in its regional outreach, not merely a peripheral stop on the diplomatic calendar.
Point of View
Thailand, and Indonesia. The Wat Pa Khae MoU is small in financial scale but significant in signal: New Delhi is willing to invest in long-horizon cultural projects that build goodwill beyond election cycles. What mainstream coverage often misses is that Quick Impact Projects also serve a strategic purpose — they keep India visible in countries where China’s infrastructure footprint is far larger. The real test of the Act East Policy is whether these cultural investments translate into economic and strategic alignment when it counts.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did MoS Pabitra Margherita do during his visit to Laos?
MoS Pabitra Margherita visited the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, witnessed the signing of an India-Laos MoU for mural conservation at Wat Pa Khae Temple, met the Indian diaspora and ITEC/ICCR alumni in Vientiane, and inaugurated a performance of the Lao Ramayana at the National Theatre on 29 August.
What is the India-Laos MoU about?
The MoU signed during Margherita’s visit covers the conservation and restoration of Ramayana and Jataka-themed mural paintings at Wat Pa Khae Temple in Laos, with funding and assistance from the Government of India.
What are Quick Impact Projects in the context of India-Laos ties?
Quick Impact Projects are small-scale, community-level initiatives funded by the Government of India to preserve heritage, promote tourism, and benefit local communities. In Laos, they are being implemented at the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang as part of India’s Act East Policy.
What is Phra Lak Phra Lam?
Phra Lak Phra Lam is the Lao adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana. A performance was inaugurated by MoS Margherita at the National Theatre in Vientiane, supported through Indian grant assistance, as a symbol of shared civilisational heritage between India and Laos.
How does this visit relate to India’s Act East Policy?
The visit operationalises India’s Act East Policy, which prioritises cultural, economic, and strategic engagement with ASEAN nations. Heritage conservation projects, diaspora engagement, and capacity-building through ITEC and ICCR are key instruments of this policy in Laos.
