India contacted Myanmar on Thursday and agreed to provide debt service relief under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and hopes this will further help mitigate the impact. of COVID-19.
This was forwarded by Foreign Minister Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who held Foreign Ministry consultations with a Myanmar delegation led by Permanent Secretary U Soe Han via virtual mode.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitment to strengthen its proven partnership with India for the mutual benefit of both countries. He also expressed his gratitude for the development and COVID-related assistance provided by India. He thanked India for providing debt service relief under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the period May 1 to December 31, 2020.
“We meet in exceptional moments which have created challenges but also avenues and opportunities to collaborate in divergent and multifaceted fields. India stands ready to continue to give all possible support to Myanmar to mitigate the health and economic impact of COVID-19, ”Shringla said at the meeting.
Regarding the COVID vaccine, he told Myanmar that New Delhi is committed to sharing its capacities with its strategic partners, including Myanmar.
On the issue of Rohingya refugees, he said, “Our work under the border area development program and the Rakhine State development program continues at a steady pace. Recently, we entered into a trilateral cooperation with Japan on Rakhine State whereby we will create soft infrastructure for 15 schools. Our efforts to ensure the rapid, safe and sustainable repatriation of internally displaced persons to Myanmar will continue. “
As friendly neighboring countries, he said they maintain a peaceful and quiet border. “We attach the highest priority to resolving the remaining border issues and have proposed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Border Working Group as soon as possible,” he told the Myanmar delegation.
Stressing that security cooperation continues to be strong, Shringla said, “We have remained sensitive to everyone’s security concerns. Myanmar’s surrender of 22 Indian insurgents has been deeply appreciated by the Government of India and sends a strong message of deterrence to hostile elements on both sides. In view of our special partnership, we call for an early conclusion of the extradition treaty, the treaty on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters and the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons.
Noting the progress of defense cooperation projects, he said a team for the deployment of meteorological squadrons will arrive in Myanmar this month. “We are also looking forward to having your representative at our Information Fusion Center for the Indian Ocean region,” he said.
India’s aid to Myanmar amounts to around $ 1.4 billion. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, they are working to get the port of Sittwe operational by the first quarter of next year. Regarding the 69 bridges on the trilateral highway, he said they would go ahead with the tendering process soon.
AEM statement says that during the consultations, the two sides discussed the full range of relations, including border cooperation and modernization of border infrastructure, the status of India’s ongoing development projects. in Myanmar, trade and investment relations, energy and energy cooperation, consular and cultural issues. cooperation, including ongoing restoration work on pagodas damaged by the earthquake in Bagan.
The next ministerial meeting of the Joint Trade Committee on October 20 will be useful in further strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations, the statement said.
