Myanmar President to hold talks with PM tomorrow

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi willhold wide-ranging talks with Myanmarese President U Htin Kyaw,in the first top level engagement between the two countriesafter iconic leader Aung San Suu KyiÂ’s National League forDemocracy wrested power in Myanmar from the military junta. The talks are expected to focus on imparting a newmomentum to bilateral ties, particularly in areas of trade andinvestment, and to enhance management of the over 1,600 km-long Indo-Myanmar border which mostly criss-crosses militancyaffected northeastern region. This is Htin KyawÂ’s first overseas trip after assumingcharge of the top office nearly five months back following thelandslide victory of Suu Kyi’s party. He arrived in theBuddhist pilgrimage town of Gaya yesterday where he visitedthe Mahabodhi temple, the most sacred of Buddhist shrines,Daijokyo Buddhist temple and Myanmar Buddhist Vihara. Hetravelled to Agra this morning and paid a visit to Taj Mahalbefore arriving here. The Myanmarese President is accompanied by his wife, DawSu Su Lwin, and a high-level delegation comprising several keyministers and top officials. Besides exploring ways to boost overall ties, the twoleaders are likely to also discuss ways to contain militantactivities along the Indo-Myanmar border. "We are intending to make it a really substantive visit,"Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary in the Ministry ofExternal Affairs had said on Friday while briefing reporterson the visit. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar andmaking huge investments in several major projects. For Indiatoo, Myanmar is a strategic neighbour and External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj during her visit to the country earlierthis week conveyed to its leadership that India was ready toprovide "all help" to the country in its march ahead. Initially India was supportive of Suu KyiÂ’s fight fordemocracy but driven by economic and security interests, ithad warmed up to the military regime, inviting criticism fromher. Suu Kyi, who is the de facto leader of the new government,will also pay a visit here later this year to attend aconclave of regional grouping BIMSTEC (Bay of BengalInitiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and EconomicCooperation). Htin Kyaw is coming to India at the invitation ofPresident Pranab Mukherjee. He will meet Mukherjee tomorrow.PTI MPBSK