Myanmar president to arrive in India on first foreign trip since taking office

The visit at the invitation of Modi will last until Jun 3

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is going to undertake his first official foreign visit to India starting Saturday, according to New Delhi.

In a statement issued on Thursday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the visit will continue until Jun 3, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several Cabinet Ministers, senior officials and business leaders,” the statement reads.

During his visit to New Delhi, the former junta chief will meet Modi on Jun 1 to discuss how to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Hlaing will also take part in a business forum.

The Myanmar president will also travel to Bodh Gaya on Saturday and to Mumbai on Jun 2 for business and industry interactions and site visits.

Bodh Gaya is a historic site in the Indian state of Bihar, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree more than 2,500 years ago, according to WION.

New Delhi says the visit will boost and deepen the multi-faceted relations between the two countries.

Hlaing was sworn in as president on Apr 10, when India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh was present on Modi’s behalf.

At that time, Singh invited him to visit New Delhi, reports The Economic Times.

The Indian newspaper says the visit signifies the importance Myanmar gives to India as a development, business, and regional security partner.

Hlaing has been keen to engage with India across sectors ranging from economy, development and security, a source told The Economic Times.

The Myanmar leader met Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit last year.