Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing yesterday embarked on an official visit to India, one of the country’s key regional partners, for high-level meetings aimed at bolstering bilateral ties.
It is the first time Min Aung Hlaing has traveled to the neighboring country since he was sworn into office as president last month following an election that critics said was orchestrated to maintain the military’s tight grip on power.
His last visit to India was in 2019 as military chief.
Photo: Reuters / Stringer
India has maintained ties with Myanmar’s military-backed administrations despite Western sanctions imposed after the military seized power from the elected government of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, and launched a crackdown on opponents that evolved into a nationwide armed conflict and humanitarian crisis.
MRTV reported that Min Aung Hlaing flew from Naypyitaw yesterday morning and landed at Gaya International Airport in India.
The Myanmar president is to meet with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as government officials and representatives from business organizations, to discuss ways to deepen ties, and foster cooperation in the economic, religious, cultural and social sectors, it said.
The president, who is accompanied by members of his Cabinet, would also visit prominent infrastructure facilities during the trip, MRTV said.
India shares a 1,643km border with Myanmar and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
Myanmar is strategically important to India’s security interests. The two countries have cooperated on border security and intelligence sharing to combat insurgent groups operating out of the border region.
Critics have expressed concern that Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India would do more to legitimize the military-backed government.
“We condemn India’s decision to host Min Aung Hlaing, who is a war criminal waging a campaign of terror against the Myanmar people,” Justice For Myanmar spokeswoman Yadanar Maung said.
“India must change course, stop awarding false legitimacy to the junta, stop profiting from the military’s campaign of terror against the people, and instead support the Myanmar people who are struggling and sacrificing daily for federal democracy,” she added.
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