Natwar Singh Visits Burma For Better Ties

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

March 24, 2005

To hold discussions to further strengthen bilateral relations, India's Minister of External Affairs K. Natwar Singh pay a four-day official visit to Burma.

Singh, who is visiting Burma since yesterday at the invitation of Burma's Foreign Affairs Minister U Nyan Win, to hold an extensive talk, which include India's security concerns in the Northeast, cross-border infrastructure development projects, the Kaladan multi-modal transport project and the India-Burma-Thailand Trilateral Highway.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The visit will end on 27 March, Singh will also call on Burma's Paramount leader Senior General Than Shwe and Prime Minister Lt. General Soe Win. 

Following his engagements in Rangoon, he is also reportedly scheduled to visit Mandalay, second largest city of Burma, to hold a meeting with the Indian communities.

Natwar Singh's visit to Burma takes place after five months of the landmark State visit to India by Burma's supreme head, Senior General Than Shwe in October 2004.

Lately, bilateral relationship between India and Burma has grown considerably in range and in content. India has extended a line of credit (LoC) of $7 million to Burma for two telecom projects and announced a grant of $3 million for implementation of IT-related projects.

India's Minister of External Affair's visit is viewed to build the current momentum in relations with Burma as a part of India's "Look East" policy.