India & Lao PDR: An Analysis of their Bilater...

India & Lao PDR: An Analysis of their Bilateral Relations in the 21st Century

Author Name : Prasanta Sahoo, Sasmita Khandual

ABSTRACT This paper provides a comprehensive overview of political, economic & commercial, defense & security and cultural cooperation between the two Asian nations India and Lao PDR. The diplomatic relations between the two nations have been established in February 1956. Bilateral trade has been growing .Their present trade (in the FY 2023-24) is USD 112.6 million. The defense cooperation between them has started in 1994. Both nations have also the age-old cultural & civilizational ties enriched by the shared heritage of the Buddhism and the Ramayana . Significantly, the recent two-day official visit of the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Vientiane , Lao PDR in October 2024 for participating the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit , has added a further momentum in the age-old civilizational bonds between the two nations, coinciding the 10th anniversary of the Act East Policy this year . Furthermore, the paper concludes by analyzing the recent developments in India and Lao PDR bilateral relationship.