Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane met with Myanmar State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the advancement of bilateral relations in a wide range of areas. .
As part of India’s efforts to help Myanmar fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Shringla and Naravane delivered a shipment of 3,000 vials of the drug Remdesivir to Suu Kyi, authorities said.
The foreign minister and the army chief began a two-day visit to Myanmar on Sunday, the first time that an Indian delegation to the neighboring country has included both officials. His meetings with Myanmar’s top civilian and military leaders are meant to boost ties in areas ranging from security to connectivity.
Shringla and Naravane discussed “important bilateral issues” during their meeting with Suu Kyi at the Foreign Ministry in Naypyitaw, the Indian embassy said in a tweet without giving details.
The commissioning of Myanmar’s Sittwe Port as part of the Kaladan transit transportation project to boost connectivity with the northeastern states of India and increased security cooperation to counter the activities of militant groups, especially along the Along the borders in Manipur and Nagaland, are among the key items on the Indian Delegation’s agenda, people familiar with the events said on condition of anonymity.
Also read: Chief of the Army, Foreign Secretary to seal shipping agreement and security ties with Myanmar
In August, India provided Myanmar with $ 5 million as an annual contribution under a border area development program that began in 2012. The program was originally scheduled to last five years and then extended through 2022. It has led to the implementation of around 140 projects in Myanmar’s Chin State and the self-managed Naga area.
The visit is also expected to reflect the safe return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar. Dhaka has been pressing New Delhi to use its good relations with Naypyitaw to push the process forward, the people said.
.
