India, Myanmar sign 7 MoUs

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday discussed issues relating to the developments in the Rakhine State, including return of displaced persons, during her talks with Myanmar's State Counsellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Aung San Suu Kyi and the President of Myanmar Win Myint. During her meeting, Swaraj also talked about the need for safe, speedy and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to the Rakhine State.

Seven agreements/MOUs were signed during the visit. These included: Agreement on Land Border Crossing, MoU on Restoration and Preservation of Earthquake Damaged Pagodas in Bagan, MoU on assistance to the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee,MoU on Training of Myanmar Foreign Service Officers, MoU on Setting up Industrial Training Centre (ITC) at Monywa, MoU on ITC at Thaton and Exchange of Letters on extending a maintenance contract for ITC Myingyan.

Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Myanmar during which she also met the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The Ministry of External Affairs  said in a statement that issues relating to peace and security, boundary and border related issues, India's development assistance to Myanmar, and ongoing projects were discussed during the bilateral meetings.

The Agreement on Land Border Crossing is seen as a landmark pact in the bilateral relations between the two countries as it will enable people from both countries to cross the land border with passport and visa, including for accessing health and education services, pilgrimage and tourism. "The MoU on restoration of pagodas at Bagan underlines the enduring cultural and historical links between the two countries. The other MoUs on technical assistance and capacity building reflect India's continuing support to Myanmar in accordance with this country's own development plans and priorities," MEA said.

On the issue of Rohingya refugees, Swaraj reiterated India's readiness and commitment to helping Myanmar in addressing issues related to Rakhine State. "She welcomed Government of Myanmar's continued commitment to implementing the Rakhine Advisory Commission's recommendations and noted that, under the aegis of the bilateral Rakhine State Development Programme, India was already in the implementation stages of various projects that would respond to the needs of different sections of the Rakhine State population," MEA said. The first major project is the construction of prefabricated housing in Rakhine State to meet the needs of displaced persons.