India aspires of Myanmar's bright future as well: PM Modi tells Htin Kyaw

New Delhi [India], Aug.29 (ANI): Stating that Myanmar holds a unique position in neighbourhood, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured that 1.25 billion people of India will always stand by them. After holding bilateral talks with visiting Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, Prime Minister Modi said that a bright future for Myanmar is not just their objective, but was India's aspiration as well. "Myanmar is special for us. It holds a unique position in India's neighbourhood. Your great nation has entered a new era, an era defined by maturity of your leadership and commitment of your people to democracy," Prime Minister Modi said. This was the first top-level engagement between the two countries after iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy wrested power in Myanmar from the military junta. "The longstanding cultural and historical linkages between our societies form a solid foundation of our ties. Let me assure you that at every step of the way 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you as partners and as friends. India stands ready to enhance our development partnership with Myanmar. I look forward to working with you, and to take the relationship to new heights," the Indian Prime Minister said. Divulging the details of the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi said that both of them agreed to work together for the safety and security of people of both the nations. "I also conveyed India's full support to the peace process initiative under the '21st Century Panglong Conference. Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity building education, healthcare and many other sectors," he said. Both the leaders also witnessed the signing of four agreements- Facilitating construction and up-gradation of 69 bridges, Kalewa-Yargi road section on Trilateral Highway Project, MoU on cooperation in renewable energy and MoU on traditional systems of medicine. "Moving Forward with Myanmar! PM and President witness the exchange of 4 agreements between the two sides," tweeted MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup. The Myanmar President earlier in the day paid tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat here. He was accompanied by Minister of State in Prime Minister Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh He was accorded with a ceremonial welcome at the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He arrived in New Delhi from Agra on Sunday on the last leg of his four day visit to India. Kyaw yesterday spent an hour at the Taj Mahal, the 17th century Mughal monument. Kyaw is also scheduled to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and hold discussions on mutual interest. It is his first state visit after the assumption of office in March by the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, bringing down curtains on five decades of military rule in Myanmar. President Kyaw's visit assumes special significance in view of the Government's impetus on Act East policy and India's increasing strategic as well as trade engagement with countries on the eastern borders. (ANI)