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At the invitation of H.E. Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India, H.E. Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) paid a State visit to India from October 25-29, 2004.
The Chairman of SPDC, H.E. Senior General Than Shwe was accompanied by a high level delegation including H.E. Lt.-Gen. Thein Sein, Secretary-I, SPDC; H.E. Lt-Gen. Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Member, SPDC; H.E. U Aung Thaung, Minister for Industry -I; H.E. U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs; H.E. Brig.-Gen. Thein Zaw, Minister for Communication, Posts and Telegraphs; H.E. Brig.-Gen. Lun Thi, Minister for Energy; H.E. U Thaung, Minister for Science and Technology; H.E. Prof. Dr. Kyaw Myint, Minister for Health; H.E. Maj.-Gen. Aung Min, Minister for Rail Transportation; H.E. Brig-Gen. Thura Myint Maung, Minister for Religious Affairs; H.E. U Kyaw Thu, Deputy Foreign Minister, and other senior officials.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing, and members of the Myanmar delegation were extended a warm and cordial welcome to India by H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Government and people of India. H.E. Senior General Than Shwe expressed his happiness at the opportunity to visit a close and friendly neighbour and conveyed his warm and sincere greetings to H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and to the Government and people of India.
In New Delhi, H.E. Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing were accorded a ceremonial welcome by H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. H.E. Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing called on H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. H.E. Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice President of India, H.E. Shri K. Natwar Singh, Minister of External Affairs and Shri L.K. Advani, Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) called on H.E. Senior General Than Shwe.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe also held extensive discussions with H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The discussions enabled better understanding and appreciation of each other’s concerns and perspectives and enhanced closer understanding at the political level. Both sides agreed to regular exchange of high-level visits in the future.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe informed the Indian leadership about the implementation of country-wide all-round development tasks undertaken in Myanmar by SPDC. The Myanmar side reiterated its strong commitment to building a modern, democratic state suited to Myanmar’s needs and conditions. The Myanmar side briefed the Indian leadership about the process of national reconciliation and reconvening of and deliberations in the National Convention in accordance with the seven-step Roadmap elaborated by the Government of the Union of Myanmar in August 2003.
The Indian side noted the resolve of the Myanmar leadership to build an enduring democratic system in Myanmar and expressed support for national reconciliation and early transition to democracy in Myanmar. The Indian side stressed that it wished to see a stable, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Myanmar and was ready to assist the Government and people of Myanmar on their path to further political and economic progress.
The two sides expressed satisfaction that bilateral cooperation was proceeding smoothly in a wide range of areas such as infrastructure, human resource development, industry, railways, oceanography, science & technology etc. and agreed to expand bilateral interaction to the health sector, the energy sector, ICT and higher education. While taking note of the steady expansion in the trade turnover between the two countries, they emphasised that the present bilateral trade level was not commensurate with existing potentialities. They agreed to direct their Ministers concerned to take appropriate measures in order to raise bilateral trade to US$ 1 billion by 2006 as proposed by the Joint Trade Committee. The two sides emphasised the role of the private sector and cross border investment in strengthening bilateral economic and commercial cooperation and agreed to encourage efforts in this direction. The Myanmar side assured that it would welcome and actively facilitate private Indian investment in Myanmar.
The Indian side extended to the Government of the Union of Myanmar a Line of Credit of US$ 7 million for two telecom projects and announced a grant of US$ 3 million for implementation of IT-related projects. The Myanmar side expressed its deep gratitude for the Line of Credit and the grant. The Myanmar side also thanked warmly the Indian side for providing in July 2004 a special Line of Credit of US$ 56.358 million for upgradation of the Yangon-Mandalay trunk-line and allied facilities.
The two sides fully shared the view that economic development of the region along the India-Myanmar border required special focus. Noting that the Tamu-Kalemyo Road had greatly improved economic conditions in the area, the Myanmar side expressed appreciation for the maintenance of the road by the Indian side. Both sides expressed satisfaction that several other cross-border projects such as the Tamanthi Hydroelectric Project, the Rhi-Tiddim and Rhi-Falam roads and the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Project were on the anvil. It was decided that, keeping in view the vital importance of these projects to the economic welfare of the peoples living in the border areas and to improving connectivity between the two countries, their implementation should be expedited. It was also decided that specific measures would be taken to encourage border trade.
At the same time, the two sides agreed that maintenance of peace and security along the border areas was an essential pre-requisite to successful implementation of cross border projects and to bringing about economic prosperity in the area. Both sides reiterated their firm determination to maintaining peace, stability and tranquillity along the entire length of their common border. The Myanmar side reiterated that it would not allow insurgent activities against India from its soil. The Indian side thanked the Myanmar side for the assurance. Both sides agreed to take necessary steps to prevent cross border crimes, including drug trafficking and arms smuggling, and to upgrade substantially bilateral cooperation in this context.
Regular visits involving the three Services, Port Calls by Indian Naval Vessels, participation of Myanmar in ‘Milan 2003’ and 'DEFEXPO India 2004’, performances by SKAT in Myanmar and visits by sports teams were reviewed with satisfaction and it was agreed to encourage such exchanges. The Myanmar side expressed appreciation with the training of Myanmar personnel in India. Both sides agreed that possibilities of expanding cooperation in the defence sphere would be examined.
The two sides recalled that they were bound by enduring cultural and spiritual links. They noted with satisfaction on-going bilateral cooperation in the cultural sphere. The Myanmar side thanked the Indian side for extending facilities to pilgrims from Myanmar. Both sides underscored that tourism promotion would nurture age-old ties and contacts at the people to people level.
In discussing the international situation, the two sides reaffirmed the validity and relevance of the principles of Panchsheel to inter-State relations. They observed that an equitable world order alone would allow solutions to challenges emanating from processes of economic development and advancements in science and technology. They noted that growth of extremist ideologies and terrorism posed a serious threat to global peace and security. They declared that terrorism anywhere in the world and in any form and manifestation was completely unacceptable.
The two sides also agreed that the United Nations had an important role to play in dealing with present-day challenges and, therefore, restructuring and reform of the United Nations in line with global realities was necessary. They were of the view that an expanded UN Security Council would give it greater legitimacy and enhance its effectiveness. The Myanmar side conveyed full support for India's bid for Permanent Membership of the UNSC.
Both sides noted that India-Myanmar relations were an important factor in enabling regional cooperation. They expressed satisfaction that regional initiatives such as the India-ASEAN partnership and BIMST-EC had assumed concrete form and content. They agreed to work closely in promoting regional cooperation in its various dimensions. The Myanmar side thanked India for its assistance under the IAI of ASEAN.
While in New Delhi, H.E. Senior General Than Shwe laid a wreath at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. H.E. Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing, and the Myanmar delegation will be visiting Agra, Bangalore, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kolkata before returning to Yangon.
During the visit, the following documents were signed: (i) MoU on Cooperation in the field of Non-traditional Security Issues; (ii) MoU between the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Department of Hydropower, Government of the Union of Myanmar on the Tamanthi Hydro-electric Project; and, (iii) the Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2004-2006. The Export-Import Bank of India and the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank signed an agreement on a special Line of Credit of USD 7 million for commissioning of CorDECT WLL based basic telephone and internet networks in Yangon and Mandalay and installation of an Optical Fibre Cable between the border towns of Moreh and Tamu. A comprehensive report on long-term business linkages between India and Myanmar, prepared jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, was also released.
Separately in New Delhi, bilateral discussions were held between India’s External Affairs Minister H.E. Shri K. Natwar Singh and Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. U. Nyan Win; India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, H.E. Shri Kamal Nath and Myanmar’s Minister for Industry- I, H.E. U. Aung Thaung; India’s Minister for Railways, H.E. Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav and Myanmar’s Minister for Rail Transportation, H.E. Maj. Gen. Aung Min; India’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, H.E. Shri Dayanidhi Maran and Myanmar’s Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs, H.E. Brig.-Gen. Thein Zaw; India’s Minister of State (Independent charge) for Science and Technology, H.E. Shri Kapil Sibal and Myanmar’s Minister for Science and Technology, H.E. U. Thaung; and Myanmar’s Minister for Energy, H.E. Brig.-Gen. Lun Thi and India’s Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri S.C. Tripathi.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe invited H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to pay a State visit to Myanmar. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe also invited H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh to pay an official visit to Myanmar. H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh conveyed an invitation to H.E. Lt Gen Soe Win, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar to visit India.
H.E. Senior General Than Shwe thanked H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Government and people of India for warm and friendly reception and gracious hospitality accorded to him and to the Myanmar delegation.
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