28 Feb

President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho attended a ceremonial welcome of India’s President Shri Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi, the capital of India, yesterday.

He also held talks with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and witnessed signing the 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs).

At 9: 30 local time, President U Win Myint met with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar at the Taj Palace Hotel and discussed bilateral relations and fostering cooperation between the countries.

The call was also attended by Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung, Myanmar Ambassador to India U Moe Kyaw Aung and officials.

The President, the First Lady and Myanmar delegation attended the welcoming ceremony of his Indian counterpart at the latter’s residence Rashtrapati Bhavan.

After taking the salute of Guard of Honour, President U Win Myint inspected it before the two leaders introduced officials from both sides.

The President and the First Lady also visited the Raj Ghat which is a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, and scattered flowers on the monument before they signed the visitors’ book and exchanged gifts with officials at the memorial.

President U Win Myint and party arrived at the Hyderabad House, a building used by the Government of India for banquets and meetings for visiting foreign dignitaries.

They were welcomed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and held talks at the Nilgiri Room of the House.

The meeting focused on fostering friendly relations, cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, education, training assistance of India in skill buildings of English language for Myanmar young people, aid for socioeconomic development in Rakhine State, national reconciliation, internal peace, democratization processes, support of India government to Myanmar in addressing issues in Rakhine State and promoting collaboration with international and regional organizations such as UN agencies.President U Win Myint also put emphasis on shipment of Myanmar pigeon peas, black grams and green grams to India up to 400,000 metric tons, and the Indian PM promised to take priority on the request.

The meeting was also attended by Union Ministers U Kyaw Tin, Thura U Aung Ko, U Thant Sin Maung, Rakhine State Government Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, the Myanmar Ambassador to India and officials.

President U Win Myint and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi witnessed the signing ceremony of MoUs between the two countries.

A total of 10 MoUs included cooperation for prevention of illegal trades of timber, protecting wildlife, development programmes in Rakhine State, cooperation in medical researches, telecommunications, petroleum products, prevention of trafficking in persons and rehabilitation works.

President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho attended luncheon hosted by the Indian Prime Minister at the same venue.

The President and party then visited the Central Cottage Industries Emporium where they looked around traditional handicrafts such as jewelries and accessories, art pieces and furnishings.

In the evening, the President, the First Lady and delegation members enjoyed a state-dinner hosted by their Indian counterparts at the presidential residence.

In the morning, the President and party visited the India Gate in New Delhi.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)