India, Myanmar agree to increase bilateral cooperation

New Delhi: Reaffirming their commitment to work closely together in all international multilateral organisations, India and Myanmar on Monday agreed that "greater bilateral cooperation" is required to promote inclusive growth and development and to contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in both countries and in the region as a whole. 

The two nations also agreed to further strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation, said a joint statement issued on the occasion of the state visit of Myanmarese President U Htin Kyaw to India from August 27 to 30.

Kyaw, who was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier in the day, is accompanied by his wife Daw Su Su Lwin and a high-level delegation of ministers and other senior officials. 

He held wide-ranging discussions with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, said the statement.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation, which is crucial for maintaining peace and stability along the long India-Myanmar border. 

Both the countries also reiterated their commitment to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other and to continue practising the policy of not allowing any insurgent groups to use their soil for hostile activities against the other side. 

India and Myanmar shared their commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations. 

Expressing satisfaction at the progress made in the implementation of Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, the two nations agreed that the completed facilities at Sittwe and Paletwa should be operationalised by December 2016 and the modalities of their operation and maintenance be finalised by the two sides at the earliest. 

The two sides also expressed satisfaction at the signing of two MoUs pertaining to implementation of India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project. 

India expressed its support for the progress made by Myanmar in its ongoing reform process under difficult circumstances including its efforts towards achieving an inclusive and broad based national reconciliation. In this context, both sides agreed that the delegations of India and Myanmar will continue to work together closely during deliberations in all relevant UN fora, the statement added.

The two nations also signed various MoUs, which includes cooperation in the fields of traditional systems of medicine and renewable energy.