Rohingyas, key projects to figure during Modi’s Myanmar visit
BOOSTING TIES: Prime Minister will hold discussions with Aung San Suu Kyi today
NEW DELHI: The burning issue of the Rohingyas and India’s capacity building measures and infrastructure projects are expected to figure during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Myanmar starting on Tuesday following the conclusion of the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China.
This is Modi’s first bilateral visit to India’s eastern neighbour. He had visited Myanmar in 2014 to attend the Asean-India Summit.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral discussions with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the country’s Foreign Minister and Minister of President’s Office following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.
Both Kyaw and Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi had visited India last year after the National League for Democracy assumed power in that country.
Modi will also visit Bagan, a heritage city where the Archaeological Survey of India is involved in restoration work of a temple and some pagodas, and Yangon where he will interact with members of the Indian community.
“During the visit, we will review developments in our bilateral relations, especially the extensive programme of development cooperation and socio-economic assistance that India is undertaking in Myanmar, and explore new areas in which we can work together,” Modi said in a predeparture statement here.
“We will also look at strengthening our existing cooperation on security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, skill development, infrastructure and energy, and culture,” he said.
India has committed grant-inaid assistance amounting to Rs 4,000 crore to Myanmar, out of a total commitment of around $1.7 billion.
The projects include the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project connecting Sittwe port in Myanmar with the northeast Indian state of Mizoram, a trilateral highway connecting northeastern India with Myanmar and Thailand, and the RhiTiddim road. The issue of security cooperation is also expected to come up for discussion.