By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Myanmar junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, connectivity, border security and defence.
The discussions also covered regional security, development cooperation and the ongoing peace process in Myanmar.
“Anchored in the enduring historical and people-to-people relationship, both sides agreed to advance partnership for peace, progress and prosperity and to further collaborate in areas of trade, investment, connectivity, development partnership, capacity building, security and border management,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi also raised the issue of Myanmar’s peace process and discussed the broader political situation in the country during the meeting.
Responding to questions on detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Misri said India continued to support enduring peace, inclusivity and dialogue involving all stakeholders.
“It was a bit of a free-wheeling discussion. I should underline that our engagement with Myanmar is not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangement in that country,” Misri said.
According to the Foreign Secretary, the talks covered the entire spectrum of bilateral ties, including trade and economic cooperation, defence and security issues, border management, development assistance and the regional situation.
“The Prime Minister 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,” Misri said.
He added that Min Aung Hlaing assured India that Myanmar’s territory would not be allowed to be used against India’s security interests.
The Myanmar leader is on a five-day visit to India, his first foreign trip since assuming office as President following Myanmar’s parliamentary elections held in December and January.
The elections took place years after the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar remains one of India’s key strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km border with several Northeastern states, including insurgency-affected Nagaland and Manipur.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had met Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday and discussed issues relating to bilateral ties and regional security.
The Myanmar President is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers, senior officials and business leaders.
Min Aung Hlaing was earlier scheduled to participate in the International Big Cat Alliance Summit in New Delhi on June 1, though the summit has since been deferred.
The Myanmar leader is also expected to travel to Mumbai on June 2 for meetings with industry representatives and site visits.