India, Myanmar sign seven agreements

New Delhi: India and Myanmar on Friday signed seven agreements including one on land border crossing as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj discussed with the top leadership here issues related to peace and security and developments in the Rakhine State from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled to Bangladesh after violence last year.

Swaraj, who is on a two-day visit in that country met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations across different sectors.

On Thursday, she called on Myanmar President U Win Myint.

During the bilateral meetings, boundary and border related issues, peace and security matters, developments in the Rakhine State, including return of displaced persons, India's development assistance to Myanmar, ongoing projects, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed, an official statement said.

She also met the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, during the visit.

Seven agreements/MoUs were signed during the visit.

These included agreement on land border crossing, an MoU on restoration and preservation of earthquake damaged pagodas in Bagan, an MoU on assistance to the joint ceasefire monitoring committee, an MoU on training of Myanmar foreign service officers.

An MoU on setting up Industrial Training Centre (ITC) at Monywa, an MoU on ITC at Thaton and Exchange of Letters on extending a maintenance contract for ITC Myingyan were also signed.

The agreement on land border crossing is a landmark in bilateral relations 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 statement said.

The MoU on restoration of pagodas at Bagan underlines the enduring cultural and historical links between the two countries.