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As India continues to deepen its engagement in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita is set to embark on a three-nation visit to Vietnam, Laos and Palau.
His visit will see participation in the commemoration of 70 years of India-Laos diplomatic ties, attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting with Dialogue Partners in Palau and taking stock of the advancement of the bilateral partnership with Vietnam. Sharing the details in a press release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that MoS Margherita will visit Vietnam on August 26 and 27. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet senior leadership of the Government of Vietnam to review the progress in the bilateral relationship that was elevated recently to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Party General Secretary and President To Lam to India. He would also be engaging with the key stakeholders and the Indian community. The release further noted that MoS Margherita is to visit Laos on August 28-29. Notably, the visit is in the context of the commemoration of 70 years of India-Laos diplomatic relations. He is to exchange views on advancing our close and historic ties and strong development partnership with the Lao PDR. He would review progress in our cooperation projects, including the ones to preserve our shared heritage. He would also interact with members of the Indian community. The release underlined how India and Mekong region countries share deep civilisational and cultural linkages. Vietnam and Laos are key partners in India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. The visit will also underline India's strong commitment to ASEAN unity and centrality and strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Later, MoS Margherita will undertake a visit to Palau on September 1-2 to attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting with Dialogue Partners, being held as part of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum and related meetings. As per the MEA, he will also have high-level bilateral engagements with the leadership of Palau. The visit will provide an opportunity for India to engage with the delegations of PIF member states, as well as with other Dialogue Partners on the sidelines of the PIF meetings. The release underlined that the visit is also expected to further strengthen and deepen India's traditionally close and longstanding partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Island Countries, including Palau. (ANI)
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