India and Laos sign MoU on quick-impact projects, share digital solutions during Jaishankar's visit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith on Saturday, during which they witnessed the exchange of MoUs on 10 quick-impact projects in Laos and collaboration to share successful digital solutions.

Jaishankar is attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. “A pleasant meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sharonxay Komassis. Thank you for his warm hospitality.

“Witnessed the exchange of memorandums of understanding on 10 quick-impact projects (QIPs) in Laos under the Mekong-Ganges Cooperation, as well as cooperation in sharing successful digital solutions,” he said. Mekong-Ganges Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative of six countries in India and five ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to cooperate in the fields of tourism, culture, education, transportation, and communications.

MGC's four basic areas of cooperation include tourism, culture, education, transportation and communications. It has further expanded to include new areas such as health and traditional medicine, agriculture and allied sectors, small and medium enterprises, water resources management, science and technology, skills development and capacity building. The two leaders also launched a special stamp set celebrating the shared cultural treasures of Ramayana and Buddhism.

(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)