India, Myanmar to up security cooperation

New Delhi, November 24: Emphasising the need for “greater vigilance” at the border, India and Myanmar agreed to “enhance security cooperation to combat insurgent groups and arms smuggling” during the two-day consultations between Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon and his Myanmarese counterpart in Yangon.

The Ninth Foreign Office Consultations between India and Myanmar were held in Yangon on November 22-23, where the Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Myanmar was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in an official statement on Monday, said that both sides “expressed satisfaction at the close and friendly relations” between them and emphasised the need to “maintain the momentum” in bilateral relations.

“The talks were most cordial and constructive. Foreign Secretary invited his counterpart to India for the next Foreign Office Consultations, an invitation which was readily accepted,” said the MEA statement.

The two countries, according to the MEA, talked about the strengthening of cooperation in the areas of energy and Oil and natural gas.

The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including security and border issues, trade and economic cooperation and cooperation in cross-border developmental projects, IT, Energy, Power and Education & Training.

The decisions taken during the 3rd Joint Trade Committee held in October 2008 were reviewed, which included converting Indo-Myanmar border trade into normal trade, opening of a border trade point at Avakhung in Nagaland and expanding the existing border trade items from 22 to 40. “Both sides expressed willingness to enter into an arrangement for long-term purchase of pulses from Myanmar,” the MEA statement said.

Appreciating the cooperation in the areas of energy, they expressed satisfaction at the recent signing of a MoU on the development of Tamanthi and Shwezay Hydropower Projects on the Chindwin River in Myanmar. Other projects in the power sector include the renovation of the Tahtaychaung Hydropower Project, construction of transmission lines, replacement of transformers damaged during cyclone Nargis, supply of biomass gasifiers and solar lamps.

India also told Myanmar about waiving off the ban on wheat export to Myanmar for 950 tonnes. It also welcomed Myanmar joining SAARC as an Observer and its taking over BIMSTEC Chairmanship in 2009. Both countries expressed satisfaction at the close engagement between India and ASEAN.

There have been high-level visits from both sides this year, including that of the visit of Vice Senior General Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of State Peace and Development Council in April 2008 and Prime Minister of Myanmar General Thein Sein in November this year for the BISMTEC summit.

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