Jaishankar hails India-Laos ties rooted in Buddhism, Ramayana at 10th JCM
Synopsis
As India and Laos mark 70 years of diplomatic ties, Jaishankar anchored the 10th Joint Commission Meeting in something older than statecraft — Buddhism and the Ramayana. With Lao DPM Phomvihane making his first India visit, the talks signal a quiet but deliberate push to firm up Delhi's Act East footprint in the Mekong as strategic competition sharpens.
Key Takeaways
EAM S Jaishankar co-chaired the 10th India-Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi on 3 June .
He cited shared Buddhist heritage and the Ramayana as anchors of bilateral ties.
Lao DPM and FM Thongsavanh Phomvihane is on his first visit to India since his elevation.
The two countries are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations.
Talks reviewed agreements signed during PM Modi's 2024 visit to Laos and covered defence, trade, education and culture.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday, 3 June underlined the civilisational depth of the India-Laos partnership, citing the shared heritage of Buddhism and the enduring legacy of the Ramayana, as he co-chaired the 10th India-Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi with Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane. The meeting comes as the two nations mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.
What Jaishankar said
‘Our two countries have close civilisational ties reflected in the common heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana. Our relations go back in history based on deep cultural and people-to-people linkages,' the EAM said in his opening remarks.
Jaishankar recalled his own visit to Laos during its ASEAN chairship in 2024, when he also called on the Lao Prime Minister. ‘I fondly remember my own visit to your beautiful country during your ASEAN chairship in 2024,' he noted.
Agenda of the Joint Commission Meeting
The EAM said the talks would review agreements and MoUs signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Laos in 2024, and explore a broader agenda spanning political cooperation, economic ties, defence, development partnerships, education, culture and multilateral coordination.
‘Today we have an opportunity to review them to explore a wide-ranging agenda... I'm very confident that our discussions today will be very productive,' Jaishankar said.
Phomvihane's first visit to India
Phomvihane, who arrived in India on Monday, is making his first visit to the country since his elevation as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister following Laos' National Assembly elections earlier this year. Jaishankar congratulated him on both counts.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X that the visit would ‘add momentum to the longstanding partnership between India and Lao and further deepen cooperation across areas of mutual interest.'
Why it matters
Laos is a key ASEAN partner for India under the Act East policy, and the 70-year milestone arrives amid sharpening strategic competition in the Mekong sub-region. The Joint Commission Meeting is the principal institutional channel between the two foreign ministries, and the outcomes are expected to shape the next phase of cooperation, including development assistance and cultural exchange tied to Buddhist circuit tourism.
Point of View
Where China's economic and infrastructure footprint is now overwhelming. India's Act East policy has long been criticised as more declaratory than deliverable in mainland Southeast Asia, and 70-year anniversaries are easier to celebrate than supply chains are to build. The real test of this Joint Commission isn't the warmth of the optics but whether the MoUs from Modi's 2024 visit translate into visible projects on the ground.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 10th India-Lao PDR Joint Commission Meeting?
It is the principal bilateral institutional mechanism between the foreign ministries of India and Laos, co-chaired this year by EAM S Jaishankar and Lao DPM and Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane in New Delhi on 3 June. The meeting reviews political, economic, defence, development and cultural cooperation.
Why did Jaishankar invoke Buddhism and the Ramayana?
Jaishankar described Buddhism and the Ramayana as the civilisational foundations of India-Laos ties, reflecting centuries of cultural and people-to-people exchange. The framing is also central to India's soft-power outreach across Southeast Asia under the Act East policy.
How long have India and Laos had diplomatic relations?
India and Laos are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties this year, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The current Joint Commission Meeting is positioned as part of that anniversary's institutional calendar.
What was discussed at the meeting?
The talks covered political cooperation, economic ties, defence, development partnerships, education, culture and multilateral coordination. The two sides also reviewed implementation of agreements and MoUs signed during PM Modi's 2024 visit to Laos.
Who is Thongsavanh Phomvihane?
Thongsavanh Phomvihane is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos, elevated to the role after the country's National Assembly elections earlier this year. This is his first visit to India in his new capacity.
