N Biren Singh
Manipur CM N Biren Singh shaking hands with the women's football team before their departure to Myanmar. Photo: Sobhapati Samom.

With the objective to promote relationship with Myanmar, Manipur women’s football team has left for Myanmar Wednesday morning.

The team will be visiting Mandalay and Saigaing province of the neighbouring country to play their exhibition matches from January 27 to 30.

Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday flagged off the tour of Manipur women’s football team for their exhibition matches with Myanmar counterpart in Mandalay and Sagaing division.

The Manipur women’s football team is also accompanied by a ministerial delegation led by state youth affairs and sports minister Letpao Haokip. During their stay in the neighbouring country, the football team will participate in two exhibitions matches while the other delegates including the Ministers, MLAs and business professionals and doctors will attended Myanmar-India Business meet with traders of Mandalay and Sagaing division.

Speaking on the brief function held at Kangla fort in Imphal, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the NDA led Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed and transformed the vision of “Look East Policy” into “Act East Policy” to maintain a strong cohesive relationship with the South East Asian countries.

The chief minister further said, “We should showcase our civilization, rich culture and tradition to these South East Asian countries.”

He asserted the success of the “Act East Policy” depends on hospitality to the visitors coming to the state.

He said, “We have to keep in mind that we are not just going to play football but we are on a mission to build a friendly and cordial relationship with our neighbouring countries. Winning or losing is an inevitable part of every game; however, the true spirit of sports should be maintained by the sports persons.”

Chief Minister urged the Minister, MLAs and officials to have a dialogue with the officials of Myanmar Government about the opening of border for feasibility of trade and commerce, visa on arrival facilities etc.

It may be recalled that the Mandalay women football team from Myanmar along with officials visited Imphal on November 23 last and played exhibition matches on November 25 and 26 with Manipur women’s football team as part of exchange programme at the Main Stadium of the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex during the Manipur Sangai Festival.