NEW DELHI, Oct 5 - India on Monday said that successful implementation of the Land Border Crossing Agreement and the ongoing discussions at the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Motor Vehicles Agreement initiatives are on track.
The statement comes on the conclusion of Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla�s Myanmar visit today.
Under the �neighbourhood first� policy, India has been wooing Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, among others, as these countries are being clearly sought by China to blunt New Delhi�s influence. India had last held foreign office consultations with Myanmar where several vital issues were discussed.
Gen Naravane and Shringla called on State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Commander in Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Gen Naravane also met Vice Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Armed Services, while Shringla met U Soe Han, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar.
They presented 3,000 vials of Remdesivir to the State Counsellor, symbolic of India�s commitment to assist Myanmar in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Shringla also indicated India�s willingness to prioritise Myanmar in sharing vaccines as and when these become available.
The two sides discussed maintenance of security and stability in their border areas and reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other. The Indian side expressed their appreciation to Myanmar for handing over of 22 members of Indian insurgent groups to India.
Both sides also discussed the ongoing India-assisted infrastructure projects such as the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project. They also agreed to work towards operationalisation of Sittwe port in Rakhine state in the first quarter of 2021.
Both sides noted the considerable progress made under the Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP) and proposed finalising projects under phase III of the programme, including setting up of a skills training centre.
India announced a grant of USD2 million for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu-Sarsichauk in Chin state that will provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and Myanmar. A quota of 1.5 lakh tonnes of black gram (Vigna mungo) for import from Myanmar till March 31, 2021 was also announced.
During the visit, the Project Agreement on the upgrade of agricultural mechanisation under the RSDP was also signed. Shringla also conveyed India�s support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine, official sources said.
Sources said both sides have been in discussion to establish a high capacity high voltage grid interconnection between the Indian power grid and the Myanmar grid. Discussions on the low voltage radial interconnections between northeastern states and Myanmar have also progressed.
Sources said that the India-Myanmar Border Area Development MoU has yielded good results. The MoU that provides for USD5 million each year over a period of five years has been extended till 2022. The projects, including those undertaken in the Chin state and Naga Self-administered Zone, have been known to deliver enormous benefits to the people and been empowering the local communities.
India also proposed to construct an oil refinery in the Thanlyn region near Yangon. According to sources, the project would be a win-win arrangement for both the countries and it would involve an investment of about USD6 billion. As of now, Indian Oil Corporation Limited has evinced interest in the project.
