Lao, Indian PMs discuss COVID-19 response, cooperation

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his Indian counterpart Narendra Damodardas Modi on Friday commended the successful progress Laos and India have made in preventing and controlling COVID-19 during their talks via telephone.
The progress has been accomplished thanks to effective, timely and appropriate measures both sides have introduced in response to the pandemic that

has enabled both nations to control the outbreak effectively, the two prime ministers noted, according to a press release from the Lao Prime Minister’s Office.
Recently, the Lao government announced initial victory in the fight against COVID-19 after all 19 coronavirus patients were discharged from hospital. No new cases have been detected in Laos for more than 60 days.
As the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak continues to be a global threat, the Lao government remains vigilant with appropriate measures to prevent a second wave of the disease.
During their talks, PM Thongloun highly valued the friendly and traditional relations and cooperation between Laos and India that has been enhanced for over 64 years since both countries established diplomatic ties.
Both sides plan to organise events to mark the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.
Laos and India have cooperated in various fields. Bilateral trade reached more than US$193 million for 2017-2018, according to the Indian Embassy to Laos.
India has extended considerable assistance in human resource development to Laos. The Government of India has been providing nearly 120 scholarships annually to Lao nationals under various schemes. The Lao-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre established in 2004 in Vientiane, trains Lao entrepreneurs in setting up small and medium scale businesses. The Lao India Centre for English Language Training set up at the National University of Laos in Vientiane in 2007 is another Indian assistance project in human resource development.
In heritage conservation, the Indian side signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lao Ministry of Information and Culture in 2007 for the restoration of the UNESCO world heritage site at Vat Phu, an ancient Shiva Temple. The work on the US$4.1 million-project began in June 2009.
In addition to bilateral relations, the two prime ministers noted during the talks that Laos and India have pushed for greater cooperation through the Asean-India cooperation framework and highly valued the implementation of the framework over the past years, which have brought real benefits for the two peoples.
This has contributed to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and world at large. Laos highly valued India’s important role in the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) over the past seven years, which contributed particularly to protecting the interests of developing and least developed countries.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update June 15, 2020)