Myanmar President to arrive on Sunday on first foreign visit

New Delhi: Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is set to visit India, starting this Sunday, in what will be his first overseas trip since assuming his new role in April, signifying the importance his country gives to New Delhi as a development, business, and regional security partner.

Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as President on April 10, in which India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, invited him to visit New Delhi.

Min Aung Hlaing, a former junta chief, is currently the most important figure in Myanmar's power structure. He has been keen to engage with India across sectors ranging from economy, development and security, said a person familiar with the neighbouring country. He met Modi last year on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.


Myanmar's leadership, including Min Aung Hlaing, have traditionally engaged various powers instead of relying on a single major power. Min Aung Hlaing has been hedging his bets by engaging with Moscow while also getting involved with Beijing.

In early May, the then Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi visited Myanmar to expand existing bilateral security cooperation. The two countries share a more than 1,600-km border, making partnership on security and counter-insurgency critical.

"Myanmar, an important though underestimated neighbour of ours, needs urgent attention," Rajya Sabha MP and former Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla told ET. "President Min Aung Hlaing's visit is therefore both timely and demonstrates renewed interest, especially in the context of cross border concerns and their implications on Manipur and other Northeastern states. Besides addressing security concerns, the visit will also provide an opportunity to revive some of our longstanding connectivity projects in Myanmar and extend support calibrated towards enhancing people-to-people ties."