Myanmar President on four-day India visit from Saturday

New Delhi/Nay Pyi Daw, Aug 24 (PTI) President of Myanmar UHtin Kyaw will pay a four-day state visit to India beginningSaturday with an aim to further expand the traditionally closerelations between the two countries by stepping up engagementin diverse areas. It will be his first State visit after the assumption ofoffice in March by the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi’sNational League for Democracy, bringing down curtains on fivedecades of military rule. The Myanmar President will be accompanied by his wife, DawSu Su Lwin, several key ministers and senior officials. Myanmar, considered one of India’s strategic neighbours,shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeasternstates including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. "During his visit to India, the Myanmar President willhave official engagements in New Delhi and also visit placesof historical and cultural importance in India," the Ministryof External Affairs said. It said the visit will help to further strengthen andexpand traditionally close ties between the two countries. In Myanmarese capital Nay Pyi Daw, Htin Kyaw’s office alsoissued a statement about his visit to India withoutspecifying the dates for it. The announcement of the visit of the Myanmarese Presidentcame three days after External Affairs Minister paid a day-long visit to the Southeast Asian nation. During her visit, Myanmar’s leaders had assured Swarajthat they would not allow any insurgent group to use itsterritory against India. On her part, Swaraj had conveyed toMyanmarese leaders that India was ready to extend "all help"to the new government. Htin Kyaw’s is coming to India at the invitation ofPresident Pranab Mukherjee. PTI SAI/MPBZMN