Narendra Modi meets Aung Suu Kyi, India raises Rohingya issue with Myanmar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, September 6, met Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the two leaders discussed ways to further cement the bilateral relations.

“Prime Minister Modi and Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi meet in Myanmar, discuss further cementing of India-Myanmar relations,” PMO said in a tweet.

 

PM @narendramodi and Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi meet in Myanmar, discuss further cementing of India-Myanmar relations. pic.twitter.com/dPCMang4wO

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 6, 2017

“Meeting a valued friend. Prime Minister Modi with the State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

 

Meeting a valued friend. PM @narendramodi with the State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi pic.twitter.com/TJfIahUvMk

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 6, 2017

The Prime Minister’s visit to Myanmar comes amid a spike in ethnic violence with Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state. He is expected to raise the issue of the exodus of the ethnic Rohingyas into neighbouring countries.

The Indian government is also concerned about Rohingya immigrants in the country, and has been considering deporting them. Around 40,000 Rohingyas are said to be staying illegally in India.

India and Myanmar signed 11 agreements in a range of sectors, including one on maritime security cooperation, to further strengthen their multifaceted partnership.

The two sides also signed an agreement for sharing white shipping information to improve data sharing on non-classified merchant navy ships or cargo ships.

The 11 MoUs also include one between the Election Commission and Union Election of Myanmar, the national level electoral commission of Myanmar. An MoU was also signed to organise cultural exchange programme for the period 2017-2020, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.

 

Strengthening a multifaceted relationship - #IndiaMyanmar sign 11 MoUs/Agreements during the visit of PM @narendramodi to Myanmar pic.twitter.com/aBc9t7ES5D

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 6, 2017

The two countries also signed agreements on cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and Press Council of India, in the field of health and medicine and women's police training centre.

This is Modi’s first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He had visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. The Myanmarese President and Suu Kyi had visited India last year.

Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.

(With inputs from PTI)