NAY PYI TAW (Myanmar), Oct 6 (NNN-BSS) — India has conveyed its support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy repatriation of forcibly displaced persons from Myanmar’s Rakhine State and announced for deepening economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla expressed the support during a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart U Soe Han in Nay Pyi Taw Monday.
Shringla and Chief of Indian Army Staff General MM Naravane concluded their two-day official visit to Myanmar Monday, according to an official statement issued by Indian Ministry of external Affairs.
During the meeting, the two foreign secretaries reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including border security, status of India’s ongoing development projects in Myanmar, bilateral trade and investment and power and energy cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to work towards operationalization of Sittwe Port in the Rakhine State in the first quarter of 2021 and further strengthening their partnership in connectivity projects, capacity building and broad-base their defense exchanges across all the three services.
They noted the considerable progress made under the Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP) and proposed finalizing projects under Phase – III of the Programme, including setting up of a skills training center.
“The foreign Secretary conveyed India’s support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of displaced persons to the Rakhine State”, the statement said.
Regarding security and stability in their border areas, its added that both sides reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other and agreed to deepen cooperation to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this connection, the Indian chief of army staff and the foreign secretary presented 3000 vials of Remdesivir to the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi that symbolizes India’s commitment to assist Myanmar in its fight against the pandemic.
Besides, India announced a grant of two million UD Dollars for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State and a quota of 1.5 lakh tonnes of Urad (Vigna mungo) for import from Myanmar till March 31, 2021.
General Naravane and Shringla also met Commander in Chief of Myanmar’s Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The Indian Army Chief also met Vice Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Armed Services. — NNN-BSS
