It was unfortunate that Pakistan was trying to politicise the proposal to open the Kartarpur corridor : Raveesh Kumar

 

 

New Delhi, December 6: "We see Kartapur corridor as a fulfilment of long pending demand of Sikh community. It was unfortunate that Pakistan politicise the pious occasion. we hope whatever announcement was made by Pakistani side will be fulfilled by it.", said the spokesperson to the External Affairs Minister Indian, in a press conference lined up to share the details of President's upcoming visit to Myanmar.

 

 

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind is set to visit the state of Myanmar for three day visit from the 11th of December to 13th of December. This will be the first visit by the president of India in past 12 years to the state. The last visit is marked to be in year 2006.

 

  

This presidential visit to Myanmar is in the backdrop of several political exchanges taken place in the last 18 months, Prime Minister’s meeting to Myanmar in the month of September last year, Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to India on the republic day and the External Affairs Minister’s meeting to Myanmar in May 2018.

 

 

“This also marks the 8th state visit and marking the final of year 2018. After Vietnam visit, Myanmar visit is the second to the ASEAN country. President Kovind will be discussing variety of concerns ranging from the trade investment, people to people connections and agriculture. He will be visiting the cherished cultural places of the nation including the Pagoda, the Kali temple and the mausoleum of bahadur shah zafar. The three membered political delegation will be accompanying the President on his visit to Myanmar.”, said Ashok Malik, press secretary to the President of India.

 

 

The president will be arriving the capital city of Naypyidaw on the evening of 10th of December. On the next day, the Indian president will be formally welcomed followed by the delegation talks with Win Myint, the Myanmar President. Variety of agreements will be signed between the duo.

 

 

The second day of this visit will mark the president’s visit to the advanced centre for agricultural research and education and the rice bio park. He will be launching a mobile application for agricultural technology.

 

 

On 12th of December in Myanmar, Kovind will be arriving at Yangon. In the evening that day, there is a meeting scheduled with the veterans of the Indian National Army (INA) which will be followed by the community reception in honour of the President, hosted by the Indian Ambassador in Myanmar.

 

 

On the last day of the visit, the authority will be inaugurating the ‘Enterprise India’ exhibition. “This is exhibition set up by the CII of about 45 to 50 companies ranging from large Indian companies to small ones. This is to showcase the manufacturing capabilities and the industrial technological abilities”, said the Foreign Minister Vijay Gokhale addressing the reports.

 

 

“Myanmar is close neighbour. It is also connected to the ASEAN regions. Myanmar is the only one to which we are linked to land and sea. Therefore, the link between the two extends to strategic, economic and cultural dias present in Myanmar. We have given the strategic and financial help to Myanmar in the past years in terms of grants counting to a billion dollars. Various infrastructural projects are also underway including the Kaladana multimodal project and the trilateral highway connecting India and Thiland through Myanmar.”, added Gokhale.

 

 

“Smaller projects for community development have been underway of which some are completed. The Ananda Temple in Bagan, one of the most prestigious cultural sites have also been restored. This restoration have been greatly appreciated by the Government of Myanmar.”

 

 

“In the last year, India also signed an agreement with Myanmar in relation to Rakhine. This was to assit the Myanmar Government to restate the Rakhine state building the housing infrastructure for the displaced people. 250 units were planned for the first phase amongst which India will be officially handing over the 50 units to the Myanmar Government. This move is appreciated by not only the Myanmar Government but also the Unite Nations”, asserted Gokhale.

 

 

This being the presidential visit to Myanmar, the two nations have good relations. The countries sound strong enough to maintain the strengthened relations and resolve the issues underway.