Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing Embarks on Five-Day Visit to India
Myanmar President's Visit to India
Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival. (Photo:PTI)
New Delhi, May 30: U Min Aung Hlaing, the President of Myanmar, commenced a five-day official visit to India on Saturday, aiming to enhance bilateral relations in areas such as trade, connectivity, border security, and defense.
His journey began with a visit to the Mahabodhi temple in Gaya before arriving in Delhi later in the evening.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to President Aung Hlaing upon his arrival in Bodh Gaya via social media.
Jaiswal emphasized that this visit underscores the deep spiritual, historical, and interpersonal connections between the two nations, highlighting the ongoing cooperation.
Upon landing, the Myanmar leader was greeted by Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd).
Aung Hlaing is accompanied by a significant delegation, including cabinet ministers, senior officials, and business representatives.
Originally, he was set to attend the International Big Cat Alliance Summit in New Delhi on June 1, but that event has been postponed.
On June 1, President Aung Hlaing is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss ways to further strengthen the historical and civilizational ties between India and Myanmar. He will also take part in a business forum, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
On June 2, the Myanmar president will head to Mumbai for interactions with the business community and site visits.
During a media briefing, Jaiswal mentioned that discussions would cover border security and connectivity, among other topics, during Aung Hlaing's visit.
He noted, "All matters related to border security, connectivity, and other aspects of India-Myanmar relations will be on the agenda. Our goal is to advance our friendly, civilizational ties."
This visit follows Aung Hlaing's recent election as president, which took place less than two months ago after parliamentary elections held in December and January, following years of protests against the military junta that took control in a coup on February 1, 2021, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
India was represented at Aung Hlaing's inauguration last month by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. Aung Hlaing has effectively led Myanmar under military rule for the past five years.
Myanmar is a strategic neighbor of India, sharing a 1,640-km border with several northeastern states, including the militancy-affected regions of Nagaland and Manipur.