Solution

During External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit, India signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Laos. The MoUs covered 10 Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) aimed at providing immediate benefits to the local communities in Laos, and cooperation in the field of digital solutions. This visit and the agreements are part of the broader Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework, which includes India and five ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR (Laos), Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The MGC focuses on collaboration in tourism, culture, education, transport, communication, and has expanded to include health, traditional medicine, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), water resources management, science and technology, skill development, and capacity building. Additionally, during the visit, a special stamp set celebrating the shared cultural heritage of Ramayana and Buddhism was launched, highlighting the cultural ties between India and Laos. Laos, officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, has its capital at Vientiane and uses the Laotian Kip as its currency.