Nay Pyi Taw: Kicking off his three-nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday landed in Myanmar, which India sees as a “natural bridge” to southeast Asia, and held talks with Myanmarese President U Thein Sein with focus on connectivity, cultural contacts, and commercial ties.
The 45-minute talks, the first meet between the two leaders, were held shortly after Modi arrived on a two-day visit and was accorded a guard of honour. People dressed in traditional attire also flocked to greet him. “Landed in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to a very warm welcome! Great being in this beautiful country,” Modi tweeted. He also posted a picture.
In Myanmar, Modi will meet leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) during the Asean-India summit. He will also meet the leaders of the East Asia Summit, which include the Asean and seven others besides India, during the November 12-13 summits.
In his departure statement, Modi said he had left “with a great sense of anticipation and fully conscious of the significance of the India-Asean Summit and East Asia Summit”. He described Asean as “at the core of our Act East Policy and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century” and East Asia Summit as a platform ahead of others in its “potential to shape this region and the world’s future”.
During their talks, Modi and Thein Sein reviewed progress of major connectivity projects, including the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and Kaladan transport project. Both sides view the trilateral highway as an opportunity for industrial cooperation, and sought to explore the possibility of setting up industrial parks along the highway. IANS
