India and Laos exchange defence, broadcasting and customs pacts and three Ramayana-linked QIPs
On 11 October 2024, in Vientiane, PM Narendra Modi held talks with Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone; pacts on defence, broadcasting and customs and three Quick Impact Projects were exchanged.
Summary
On 11 October 2024, in Vientiane, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and congratulated him on hosting the 21st ASEAN-India and 19th East Asia Summits. In their presence, the two sides exchanged an MoU on defence cooperation (signed by Rajnath Singh and Lao Deputy PM and Defence Minister Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath), an MoU on broadcasting between Lao National Television and Prasar Bharati, an agreement on mutual assistance in customs matters, and three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation. The QIPs cover the Phalak-Phalam (Lao Ramayana) performing art and Wat Phakea temple in Luang Prabang province and shadow puppet theatre in Champasak province. The PM also met Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 11 Oct 2024, Vientiane
- Lao PM
- Sonexay Siphandone
- Lao President
- Thongloun Sisoulith
- Pacts
- Defence MoU, broadcasting MoU (Lao National TV-Prasar Bharati), customs agreement
- QIPs (Mekong-Ganga Cooperation)
- Lao Ramayana (Phalak-Phalam), Wat Phakea temple, shadow puppet theatre
- India's Ambassador
- Prashant Agrawal
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Who was the Prime Minister of Lao PDR with whom PM Modi held bilateral talks in Vientiane on 11 October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Sonexay Siphandone
PIB (11 Oct 2024): PM Modi held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane.
The three Quick Impact Projects exchanged between India and Laos on 11 October 2024 were under which framework?
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Correct answer: A — Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
PIB (11 Oct 2024): three Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders.
Under the India-Laos broadcasting MoU of 11 October 2024, Lao National Television partnered with which Indian body?
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Correct answer: D — Prasar Bharati
PIB list of outcomes (11 Oct 2024): MoU on Cooperation of Broadcasting between Lao National Television and Prasar Bharati.
Consider the following statements about the India-Laos outcomes of 11 October 2024: 1. One QIP concerns shadow puppet theatre in Champasak province. 2. The defence MoU was signed on the Indian side by the Chief of Defence Staff. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct; statement 2 is wrong. PIB list of outcomes (11 Oct 2024): a QIP on preservation of shadow puppet theatre's performance in Champasak province; the defence MoU was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.