Laos Deputy Prime Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and his wife Vadsana Phomvihane toured the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Phomvihane is in India for a three-day official visit and is scheduled to co-chair the 10th India-Laos Joint Commission Meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Phomvihane on his first visit to India. India and Laos are commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations, aiming to strengthen their partnership and enhance cooperation in various fields of mutual interest.
During his visit, Phomvihane will attend the India-Lao Business Forum and meet with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, emphasizing the benefits of closer ties in trade and culture between the two nations.
India and Laos share historical and cultural ties, including a common heritage of Buddhism and the Ramayana. The bilateral relations have been friendly and supportive since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1956, with regular consultative mechanisms like Foreign Office Consultations and Joint Commission Meetings enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
