New Delhi/Nay Pyi Taw, Sep 5 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw for his first bilateral visit to Myanmar with an aim of charting a road map for closer cooperation between the two countries in areas like security and counter-terrorism.
“I thank the Chinese government and people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit,” Modi said in a tweet before leaving for Nay Pyi Taw.
The Prime Minister left for Nay Pyi Taw from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS summit and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.
Modi also met Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, who is also hosting a banquet for him later in the day.
The Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday.
Modi had said India and Myanmar will look at strengthening existing cooperation in areas of security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, and culture.
He hoped his visit will help in charting a road map for closer cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said both countries will review developments in bilateral ties with a focus on “extensive” programme of development cooperation and socio-economic assistance India is undertaking in Myanmar.
Modi said he was looking forward to paying a visit to the famed heritage city of Bagan, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has done a “stellar work” in renovating the Ananda Temple.
The ASI will be undertaking further restoration work on a number of pagodas and murals that were damaged in an earthquake last year, he said.
Modi had visited Myanmar in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.
The Myanmarese President and Ms. Suu Kyi had visited India last year.
Myanmar is one of India’s strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.