New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) In a diplomatic outreach, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met with Myanmar’s new President Min Aung Hlaing on Friday and handed over a letter of felicitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Singh represented India at the inauguration of Aung Hlaing at a ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw.
“Called on U Min Aung Hlaing and handed over a letter of felicitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him on his assumption of office as the President of Myanmar today,” Singh said on social media.
“Myanmar and India are close partners with age-old ties, as well as land and maritime neighbours. India remains committed to further strengthening its multifaceted bilateral cooperation with Myanmar under its ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East’ and ‘MAHASAGAR’ policies, and to extending developmental assistance for the benefit of the people of Myanmar,” he added.
Aung Hlaing took charge as the president more than a week after Myanmar’s parliament paved the way him to assume the responsibility following the general election that excluded major opposition parties.
The election was held in December and January after years of protests against the ruling military-junta that seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, overthrowing the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung Hlaing was effectively running Myanmar for the last five years, helming the military rule.
Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-kilometre border with a number of northeastern states, including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.
The country is considered crucial under India’s “Neighbourhood First”, “Act East” and “MAHASAGAR” policies.
Modi announced the vision MAHASAGAR or “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions” for India’s engagement with the Global South during his visit to Mauritius in March last year. PTI MPB RC
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