External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in the Laos capital on Thursday to take part in the ASEAN-mechanism meetings.
In a post on X, the EAM said he looks forward to further deepen India’s ties with ASEAN.
“Arrived in Vientiane, Laos to take part in the ASEAN-mechanism meetings.
“Look forward to further deepen India’s ties with ASEAN as we mark a decade of Act East Policy.”
EAM is on a visit to Vientiane from July 25-27 at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith, to participate in the meeting of Foreign Ministers under the ASEAN framework in the format of ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The visit underlines India’s deep engagement with and the importance India attaches to the ASEAN-centred regional architecture, our strong commitment to ASEAN unity, ASEAN centrality, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and taking forward the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a statement said.
This year also marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy which was announced by Prime Minister Modi at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014.
EAM is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on the margins of the ASEAN-related meetings, it added.
