N B Singh appeals people of Laos to explore Manipur’s culture, tradition

Our Correspondent
Imphal, August 7 (EMN): Comparing the National Flower of Laos, ‘The Dok Champa’ with Manipuri ‘Khage-Leihao’ or Temple/Pagoda tree, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Monday appealed to explore and share rich culture and traditions to bring closer the people of Lao with Manipur.
“Given such similarities, I am sure we can explore opportunities to partner and share our rich culture and traditions as part of the Tourism Festival in our State to bring closer the people of Lao and the State of Manipur and the region,” says Biren while addressing the 25th anniversary celebration conference of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership at Vientiane in Lao.
Stating that the North East region is rich in horticultural products, plantation crops, vegetables, spices, rare herbs, and medicinal plants, he pointed out that there are huge untapped potentials to develop and expand the air connectivity eastward from Imphal in particular and the North East region of India in general to the ASEAN region. North East also offers unlimited tourism opportunities, rare flora and fauna, natural scenic beauty, performing arts, cuisine and handicrafts.
There has been a strong emphasis on enhancing India’s road and maritime connectivity with its eastern neighbours. Some of the key projects include the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, which connects Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in western Thailand through Mandalay in Myanmar, and the Kaladan multi-nodal transport project, which aims to connect Kolkata, India with Sittwe Port in Myanmar, he added.
Informing that Manipur Sangai Festival is celebrated in the name of state animal-Sangai, an endangered sub-species of brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur, in November annually, he said the State had also stated celebrating Shirui Festival from this year onwards to celebrate the beauty of the State flower – Shirui Lily.
Biren was accompanied by MLAs Dr S Ranjan, L Susindro, Advisor to CM Rajat Sethi and Personal Secretary to CM S Rajen. The celebration was jointly organized by AIBC, Lao Chapter and Indian Embassy Lao and supported by Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industries.