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Laos happy over growing India-China ties

Laos Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

MANILA: Expressing “delight” over the strengthening relations between India and China, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongloun Sisoulith, has described his country’s ties with the United States as “relatively good.”

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the just-concluded series of multilateral meetings organised by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila, Mr. Thongloun said: “Laos has long-lasting friendship wit h both India and China. With regard to the rise of these two important countries, Lao PDR would see it in a very positive way, as the two countries will help strengthen our region.”

Noting that Laos was happy to “witness” the growth of India-China ties “from strength to strength”, he said the ASEAN too recognised their “contribution” to peace and stability in East Asia.

Asked about the implications of the recent arrest of Vang Pao by the United States to thwart his alleged attempt to topple the Laotian Government, Mr. Thongloun said: “We see this as an internal political affair of the U.S., as Mr. Vang Pao is a [naturalised] U.S. national. If the U.S. sees Mr. Vang Pao as a threat to the U.S. itself or a threat to other countries, the arrest depends on them.”

Noting that Mr. Vang Pao and his group were of “no value to our country” and had “nothing to do with Laos,” Mr. Thongloun, who is also the Foreign Minister, said “the activities undertaken by this group are not a serious threat to our country.”

These activities might have related to illicit trade in arms and drugs, he said. Mr. Vang Pao is a leader of the Laotian minority of Hmong community, and he was a U.S.-backed “anti-Communist military general” during the Vietnam War era. Regardless of his arrest now by the U.S. itself, Vientiane’s relationship with Washington “still remains the same, at a relatively good level,” Mr. Thongloun maintained.

The two countries “have always maintained coordination, especially in the implementation of important projects in drug control.”

Tracing an overview of the ties between India and Laos, Mr. Thongloun said: “The Lao PDR appreciates the assistance rendered by the Government of India, particularly in providing us with credit and soft loans to be utilised in various development projects. Many of them are under implementation, and, of course, there would be more projects in the future.

Another important area is to enhance investment from India.

And, apart from the information technology sector, we would very much welcome investments by India in hydro-electric power plant construction as well as in the agricultural sector, in particular agro-processing.”

Mentioning a $350-million investment commitment by the Birla Group, Mr. Thongloun said another project, which could be considered a flagship, was the construction of electricity transmission lines from the central part of Laos to the southern part and, maybe, further to Cambodia.”

Vientiane and New Delhi were now discussing the possible involvement of India in the construction of the Asian highway projects that would link the east-west and north-south economic corridors of Laos, Mr. Thongloun said.

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