 The Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN and India have a shared commitment to economic development, regional peace, security and stability. India is a full dialogue partner and a participant of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Laos or Lanzang, the land of a million elephants, is a country of only 6 million people. 42% of these are under 14. It is a young country, rich in forest and mineral wealth. Buddhism came to Laos from India and has remained deeply ingrained in the Lao people. In the misty early morning hours, saffron-robed monks set out to receive alms from the faithful. Their calm, serene faces are symbolic of the teachings of the Buddha. His tenets have traveled thousands of miles from India to make their home here in Laos. A unique example of the harmonious blend of Buddhism and Hinduism is the elaborate wood panels in the vats. Luan Prabang's most famous Buddhist temple, Vatsing Tong, has rich gold leaf carvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Rama, Sita, Hanuman. The Ramayana is a popular dance drama that is regularly presented in Luan Prabang. It is a major draw for tourists who come to see how harmoniously two countries, as physically distant as India and Laos, can come together on a cultural platform such as the Ramayana. The show begins and the slow graceful movements of the artists hold the audience in thrall. Here in Luan Prabang, the actors perform the Ramayana. Seemingly perfectly at home, even as the people are transported to another time and age, to India.