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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Modi calls for greater cooperation between India and Myanmar in energy and agriculture
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Modi calls for greater cooperation between India and Myanmar in energy and agriculture

During the meeting with Myanmar's foreign minister U. Wunna Maung Lwin, PM reaffirms India's position as a reliable partner in Myanmar's development

India attached the highest priority to its relations with Myanmar, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting with visiting Myanmarese foreign minister U. Wunna Maung Lwin in New Delhi. Photo: BloombergPremium
India attached the highest priority to its relations with Myanmar, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting with visiting Myanmarese foreign minister U. Wunna Maung Lwin in New Delhi. Photo: Bloomberg

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for greater bilateral cooperation between India and Myanmar in energy and agriculture, a day ahead of the two countries sitting down for their first Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting aimed at strengthening ties across the entire expanse of their relationship.

Modi, who had visited Myanmar in November, conveyed this during a meeting with visiting Myanmarese foreign minister U. Wunna Maung Lwin who called on him in New Delhi.

During his talks, Modi “fondly recalled his visit to Myanmar in November 2014 to attend the East Asia Summit and the Association of Southheast Asian Nation Summits, and his meeting with President U Thein Sein at the time", a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

Modi said that “India attached the highest priority to its relations with Myanmar, and conveyed India’s commitment to deepen the bilateral relationship in all areas, including in political, economic and security spheres and people to people contacts," it said.

The prime minister “reaffirmed India’s position as a reliable partner in Myanmar’s development... and highlighted the importance of Myanmar for peace and stability in the region, and for India’s connectivity with Southeast Asia," the statement said adding that the visiting minister “briefed Prime Minister on progress in bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, health and development projects.

The JCC meeting, which will be co-chaired by Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and her Myanmarese counterpart U. Wunna Maung Lwin, comes after the two countries joined hands to take out Indian insurgents in Myanmarese territory early last month.

The visit and the JCC meeting also comes a week after Myanmar announced general elections in November following one in 2010.

“We expect it to be a good meeting" with “fairly exhaustive" discussions on all subjects of cooperation, a person familiar with the developments said on Wednesday.

“This first JCC meeting will review progress on bilateral initiatives in various sectors, identify thrust areas and give directions for further growth of the bilateral partnership. The meeting would also provide a useful opportunity for exchange of views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," a statement from the Indian foreign ministry said.

India was one of the few countries that maintained its engagement with the Myanmar when it was under military rule given its concerns that insurgents launching attacks in the northeastern region were taking shelter in Myanmar. Once a firm backer of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, India switched tracks when it realised its security in the northeastern region was being undermined.

Since then, Indian and Myanmarese armies have conducted joint military raids in the past to uproot militant bases and camps and the operation last month was one in a series of such exercises by the two countries. The latest Indian operation last month followed an ambush of 18 soldiers in India’s Manipur state bordering Myanmar.

Ties between the two countries were brought on to a different plane by the 2010 elections in Myanmar. During a visit by Myanmarese president Thein Sein in 2011, India offered $500 million as development assistance. In 2012, prime minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian prime minister to visit the country in 25 years.

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Published: 16 Jul 2015, 01:33 AM IST
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