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India, Myanmar to explore ways to make border peaceful
Yangon, Nov 03: India today announced a 57 million US dollar line of credit to Myanmar which gave an assurance that it would not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities and agreed to explore ways of joint effort to make the border peaceful.
Yangon, Nov 03: India today announced a 57 million US dollar line of credit to Myanmar which gave an assurance that it would not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities and agreed to explore ways of joint effort to make the border peaceful.
During wide-ranging talks Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had with top Myanmarese leader and Senior General Than Shwe, Yangon shared concern on terrorism and the insurgency problem in the Indian North Eastern region.
"No anti-India activity on Myanmar soil will be allowed or accepted," the senior general, who is chairman of the ruling state peace development council, told Shekhawat who arrived here yesterday on a five-day visit to this country.
The line of credit would be used for improving Yangon-Mandalay railway line. It was also decided to hold ministerial-level talks in New Delhi on the proposed India-Myanmar-Thailand road project.
Yangon also agreed to allow an India-Hanoi car rally mooted by Prime Minister Atal Bihri Vajpayee last month to enhance people-to-people contacts with ten-nation Asean to pass through its territory, official sources said.
The two sides discussed in detail the insurgency problem in the North East which was hampering growth of trade across the border.
"We will discuss how joint efforts can be intensified to make India-Myanmar border peaceful," Foreign Secretary Kanlwal Sibal, who is accompanying the Vice President, said while briefing newspersons on the "cordial and friendly" meetings Shekhawat had with the Myanmarese leadership.
Sibal said both sides voiced satisfaction over the talks and saw "prospects of further improvement in bilateral ties".
The Myanmarese leadership briefed Shekhawat on the internal political and economic situation in the country and its seven-point road map for restoration of democracy.
"We are watching with friendly interest the progress towards restoration of democracy and reconciliation," the Foreign Secretary said.
Asked about New Delhi's reaction to the seven-point roadmap, Sibal said, "We have no prescription but we are interested in democracy in our neighbourhood."
Addressing the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry here earlier in the day, Shekhawat said a climate of peace and tranquility was an essential pre-requisite for enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
"Incidents of bombing in Bali, Jakarta and Mumbai require us to fight the menace of terrorism together. Terrorism has assumed a trans-national character. It has become increasingly clear that we have to pool our resources and efforts to curb and eliminate this dangerous phenomenon in all its manifestation," the Vice President said.
Asserting that Myanmar has a "special place" in its 'look east' policy, Shekhawat sought doubling of the trade turnover between them to one billion us dollars in the next three years and said joint projects in areas of information technology, telecom, hydrocarbons, light engineering goods, food processing and pharmaceuticals held promise.
"The India-Myanmar joint trade committee has proposed to raise the turnover to USD one billion in the next three years through expansion and diversification of trade. This is a challenging but feasible task," Shekhawat said addressing a luncheon meeting hosted by Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry here.
Shekhawat, who is the first Indian Vice President to visit Myanmar in 16 years, said while the committee would focus on removing impediments and providing an appropriate framework at the policy level, a dynamic private sector, apex chambers of commerce and leaders of industry should achieve the target.
Observing that trade, including border trade, was a vital component of their relationship, he said the Tamu-Kalay Road was a symbol of joint endeavours between the two neighbours.
Shekhawat extended an invitation to Gen. Shwe on behalf of President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vajpayee to visit India. The invitation was accepted by the Senior General and dates for it would be decided later as per mutual convenience.
India and Myanmar had last night signed two agreements on enhancing joint education and research programmes and exempting visa requirement for diplomatic and official passport holders. Shekhawat also held talks with Vice Senior General Maung Aye, who is second in the hierarchy in Myanmar's military junta. Bureau Report
"No anti-India activity on Myanmar soil will be allowed or accepted," the senior general, who is chairman of the ruling state peace development council, told Shekhawat who arrived here yesterday on a five-day visit to this country.
The line of credit would be used for improving Yangon-Mandalay railway line. It was also decided to hold ministerial-level talks in New Delhi on the proposed India-Myanmar-Thailand road project.
Yangon also agreed to allow an India-Hanoi car rally mooted by Prime Minister Atal Bihri Vajpayee last month to enhance people-to-people contacts with ten-nation Asean to pass through its territory, official sources said.
The two sides discussed in detail the insurgency problem in the North East which was hampering growth of trade across the border.
"We will discuss how joint efforts can be intensified to make India-Myanmar border peaceful," Foreign Secretary Kanlwal Sibal, who is accompanying the Vice President, said while briefing newspersons on the "cordial and friendly" meetings Shekhawat had with the Myanmarese leadership.
Sibal said both sides voiced satisfaction over the talks and saw "prospects of further improvement in bilateral ties".
The Myanmarese leadership briefed Shekhawat on the internal political and economic situation in the country and its seven-point road map for restoration of democracy.
"We are watching with friendly interest the progress towards restoration of democracy and reconciliation," the Foreign Secretary said.
Asked about New Delhi's reaction to the seven-point roadmap, Sibal said, "We have no prescription but we are interested in democracy in our neighbourhood."
Addressing the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry here earlier in the day, Shekhawat said a climate of peace and tranquility was an essential pre-requisite for enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
"Incidents of bombing in Bali, Jakarta and Mumbai require us to fight the menace of terrorism together. Terrorism has assumed a trans-national character. It has become increasingly clear that we have to pool our resources and efforts to curb and eliminate this dangerous phenomenon in all its manifestation," the Vice President said.
Asserting that Myanmar has a "special place" in its 'look east' policy, Shekhawat sought doubling of the trade turnover between them to one billion us dollars in the next three years and said joint projects in areas of information technology, telecom, hydrocarbons, light engineering goods, food processing and pharmaceuticals held promise.
"The India-Myanmar joint trade committee has proposed to raise the turnover to USD one billion in the next three years through expansion and diversification of trade. This is a challenging but feasible task," Shekhawat said addressing a luncheon meeting hosted by Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry here.
Shekhawat, who is the first Indian Vice President to visit Myanmar in 16 years, said while the committee would focus on removing impediments and providing an appropriate framework at the policy level, a dynamic private sector, apex chambers of commerce and leaders of industry should achieve the target.
Observing that trade, including border trade, was a vital component of their relationship, he said the Tamu-Kalay Road was a symbol of joint endeavours between the two neighbours.
Shekhawat extended an invitation to Gen. Shwe on behalf of President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vajpayee to visit India. The invitation was accepted by the Senior General and dates for it would be decided later as per mutual convenience.
India and Myanmar had last night signed two agreements on enhancing joint education and research programmes and exempting visa requirement for diplomatic and official passport holders. Shekhawat also held talks with Vice Senior General Maung Aye, who is second in the hierarchy in Myanmar's military junta. Bureau Report