The Times of India - Ansari to visit Myanmar for three days

The Times of India - Ansari to visit Myanmar for three days
5 Feb 2009, 0542 hrs IST, TNN

NEW DELHI: Vice-President Hamid Ansari will go to Myanmar on a 3-day visit starting Thursday at the invitation of Vice Senior General Maung Aye. Minister of state for defence Pallam Raju and three Members of Parliament will accompany him, besides a number of senior officials and a large business delegation.

The foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the visit was taking place in the context of an increasing engagement between India and Myanmar. Ansari will visit Nay-Pyi-Taw, Yangon and Mandalay. He will call on Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and his counterpart Vice Senior General Maung Aye, vice-chairman of the SPDC.

Ties between India and its eastern neighbour have consolidated in recent years. In May last year, Indian Navy ships were the first to reach relief to Myanmar in the wake of the devastating cyclone `Nargis'. Later, the Indian Air Force also joined relief efforts.

India is helping Myanmar in building infrastructure and boosting development. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built the 160 km-long Tamu-Kalewa-Kaylemyo road on the Indo-Myanmar border.

"The two sides inked agreements last year on bilateral investment protection while New Delhi committed $120 million line of credit for power facilities in Myanmar," said a statement issued by the government. A senior official said the two countries would sign MoU for the establishment of an industrial centre in Myanmar.