Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Myanmar’s territory will not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks to boost bilateral ties in trade, defence, energy, and connectivity in New Delhi yesterday.
Mr Aung Hlaing is on a five-day visit to India. Briefing media after the talks, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, President of Myanmar reiterated the assurance that Myanmar’s territory will not be permitted to be used against India’s security interests. Mr Misri said Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and both sides underscored the importance of preventing the misuse of sovereign territory for activities “inimical” to their security interests.
Foreign Secretary said that the issue of certain militant groups operating in the Northeast from Myanmar side was raised by PM Modi. Mr Misri said the talks between the two sides focused on the entire gamut of bilateral issues that included trade and economic ties, defence and security related issues, border management, development assistance, as well as the regional situation.
Both sides expressed interest in forging closer cooperation, particularly in areas of trade and investment, health, education, energy, and critical technologies like artificial intelligence. Mr Misri said, Myanmar President’s visit has once again reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to deepen their long-standing partnership and to work together for mutual benefit, growth and prosperity in the region. Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640-kilometer-long border with a number of northeastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Mr Aung Hlaing and discussed key issues relating to bilateral ties.
The Myanmarese leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several cabinet ministers, senior officials and business leaders. The Myanmarese president will travel to Mumbai today for business and industry interactions and site visits.
