India News paper (Indo-Myanmar ties

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Subject: India News paper (Indo-Myanmar ties get aboost)

Indo-Myanmar ties get a boost
Shishir Gupta
New Delih, February 28
The Hindustan Times

As part of New Delhi's Look East' policy, India and Myanmar have begun
the journey towards increasing co-operation in areas of economy, trade,
commerce, science, technology, investment and security.
 The Indian initiative is evident from Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath's
on-going visit to Yangon.
 This is the first Foreign Secretary level visit since Mr J.N.Dixit
visited India's eastern neighbor six year ago. Abroad based dialogue
having long-term impact in terms of better relations and understanding
each other security concerns has already commenced.
 The two sides during Mr Raghunath's visit, are expected to discuss ways
to regularize their high-level contacts including increased exchange of
ministerial visits.
 Future tie-ups in the field of hydrocarbon sector, mining, power,
railways, inland water transport, developmental assistance in
infrastructure and highway construction are on the priority list.
 Another important aspect of this engagement is co-operation to check
cross-border insurgency as both the countries wage battle against
militancy. Essentially, this will entail continued and intensified
efforts to tackle insurgency and deny the use of each other's territory
by militants.
 According to Ministry of External Affairs, the two governments have
discussed measures required for enhanced security and border management
for facilitating foreign trade and future cross border projects.
 The Myanmarese side is led by Deputy Foreign Minister U. Khiri Maung
Win.
 Inida is working overtime to build a key strategic highway in Myanmar
with about 35 per cent of the border road from Tamu across Moreh in
Manipur to Kalenmyo in Myanmar already completed.
 This highway, which is likely to be completed by the turn of the
century, will link national highway 39 to the road network in Myanmar. A
high-level official delegation of Ministry of Mines is also slated to
leave for Yangon next month for exploring prospects of nickel mining in
Myanmar.
 The team was earlier scheduled to leave Delhi on Feb 22 but the date
was postponed in view of Mr Raghunath's visit.
 During a top-level meeting with the visiting Myanmarese official
delegation in November, 1997 in New Delhi. India had offered to upgrade
road communication in the Kachin state, Chin state, upgrade railway
facilities ect.