by our friend Imtiaz Muqbil, Travel Impact Newswire
India and Myanmar have pledged to complete the road link from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar by 2016. The agreement was reached during the visit by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar which ended on May 29. The road will complete one of the most important missing links in the entire Asian Highway network and give a significant boost to trade, tourism and transportation between Thailand and many landlocked parts of Asia, including the restive Northeast region of India.
Under the agreement, which also includes the extension of a US$500 million line of credit to Myanmar, India is to repair/upgrade 71 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa friendship Road, and also upgrade the Kalewa-Yargyi road segment to highway standard while Myanmar will upgrade the Yargyi-Monywa stretch to highway standard by 2016. While it will enhance the economic and investment potential of Myanmar, as the two governments desire, the road will also accelerate the deforestation of Myanmar and worsen problems related to drug-running and organised crime syndicates.

The following is a part text of the joint statement issued by the leaders of Myanmar and India after the conclusion of the Indian PM’s visit. It highlights the huge leap forward to be made by the two countries in advancing their economic, social, cultural, educational ties, all of which will lead to a significant level of people to people movements.

Joint Statement on the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw, 28-May, 2012.
1. The Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, is paying a State visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar from May 27 to 29, 2012 at the invitation of the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Thein Sein. He is accompanied by his wife Shrimati Gursharan Kaur.

2. The visit of the Prime Minister the first after 25 years is a historic milestone in the relations between India and Myanmar.

3. During the official talks, the Prime Minister of India was assisted by the External Affairs Minister Shri S.M. Krishna, National Security Adviser Shri S Menon, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Shri Pulok Chatterji, Foreign Secretary Shri Ranjan Mathai, Ambassador of India to Myanmar Dr V.S. Seshadri and other senior officials.

4. The President of Myanmar was assisted by U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and other Union Ministers and the Myanmar Ambassador to India U Zin Zaw and Senior Government Officials.

5. The Prime Minister of India and the President of Myanmar comprehensively reviewed the multifaceted bilateral relationship and took stock of developments since the very successful State visit of President U Thein Sein to India in October 2011. They expressed satisfaction at the ongoing official exchanges and the growing economic, trade and cultural ties, as well as people-to-people exchanges.

6. The two leaders agreed on a vision for the future in the pursuit of the common good – bilaterally, regionally and globally. They agreed to cooperate in the areas such as border area development, transportation, connectivity, agriculture, trade and investment, promotion of friendly exchanges and human resource development. They recognized that peace and stability in the region is necessary for development and well-being of the people of their respective countries. In this context, they emphasized the importance of close cooperation between India and Myanmar and the need to effectively harness their respective resources for the good of the peoples of the two countries.

7. The Prime Minister of India congratulated the President of Myanmar on the path breaking reform measures taken by the Government of Myanmar towards greater democratisation and national reconciliation. He commended the on-going efforts at political, economic and social reform, which included negotiation of preliminary peace agreements with several ethnic groups as well as dialogue with various democratic political parties including the National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He also expressed appreciation for the free, fair and peaceful conduct of the recent by-elections.

8. The Prime Minister of India reiterated India’s readiness to extend all necessary assistance in accelerating the country’s democratic transition and developing the capacity of democratic institutions such as the Parliament, National Human Rights Commission and the Media. Recalling the very successful visit of a Parliamentary delegation led by Thura U Shwe Mann, Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw, to India in December 2011, the Prime Minister conveyed India’s readiness to undertake training programmes for Myanmar Parliamentarians and staff.

9. The following instruments for enhancing bilateral cooperation were signed during the visit:

(i) Memorandum of Understanding regarding US$ 500 million Line of Credit

(ii) Air Services Agreement between India and Myanmar

(iii) Memorandum of Understanding on the India-Myanmar Border Area Development

(iv) Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Joint Trade and Investment Forum

(v) Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Advance Centre for Agriculture Research and Education (ACARE)

(vi) Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Rice Bio Park at the Department of Agricultural Research in Nay Pyi Taw

(vii) Memorandum of Understanding towards setting up of Myanmar Institute of Information Technology

(viii) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Dagon University and Calcutta University

(ix) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies and Indian Council of World Affairs.

(x) Agreement on Cooperation between Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies and Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis.

(xi) Cultural Exchange Programme (2012-2015)

(xii) Memorandum of Understanding on establishing of Border Haats across the border between Myanmar and India.

10. Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations. Both of them emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation between security forces and border guarding agencies for securing peace, security and stability in the border areas, which was crucial for overall development. In this context, the two leaders welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the bilateral Regional Border Committee whose deliberations were useful in promoting such cooperation and understanding for better border management. Both leaders reiterated the assurance that territories of either country would not be allowed to be used for activities inimical to the other, including for training, sanctuary and other operations by terrorist and insurgent organisations and their operatives.

11. Both leaders also alluded to the importance of sound border management as an intrinsic part of maintaining border security. In this context, they directed that the respective Survey Departments should inspect and maintain boundary pillars in a systematic manner. They also directed the respective Heads of Survey Department to finalise dates for an early joint inspection of the sectors jointly identified at the 17th National Level Meeting.

Connectivity
12. The two leaders emphasised the importance of enhancing connectivity between the two countries as a means of promoting commercial, cultural, touristic and other exchanges between the peoples of the two countries. They expressed satisfaction at the steady progress being made on the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project. They welcomed the finalisation of the site of the Land Customs Station at Zorinpui (Mizoram) following joint inspection by Indian and Myanmar delegations in April 2012. It was noted that the project would enhance bilateral trade, people to people contact and contribute to the development and prosperity of the people living in the ‘land locked’ North Eastern region of India.

13. The Prime Minister of India announced that India would undertake the task of repair/upgradation of 71 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa friendship Road. The two leaders decided that India would undertake the upgradation of the Kalewa-Yargyi road segment to highway standard while Myanmar would undertake that of upgradation of the Yargyi-Monywa stretch to highway standard by 2016. This project would help in establishing trilateral connectivity from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. The two leaders welcomed the revival of the Joint Task Force on the Trilateral Highway between India-Myanmar–Thailand. It was agreed that efforts would be made to establish seamless trilateral connectivity by 2016.

14. Taking into account the importance of enabling people-to-people contacts, the two sides agreed to launch a trans-border bus service from Imphal, India to Mandalay. The two leaders directed the concerned officials from both sides to finalise all modalities to enable its early operationalisation.

15. They also welcomed the signing of the new Air Service agreement which would enhance direct air connectivity and facilitate easy business interaction, tourism and people-to people exchanges.

16. The two leaders decided to constitute a Joint Working Group to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of cross-border rail links and the commercial feasibility of direct shipping links between the two countries.

Development Cooperation
17. Both leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU on the US$ 500 million Line of Credit extended by India to the Government of Myanmar which would pave the way for its early operationalisation. The Line of Credit will be utilised in the infrastructure development projects, including in the fields of Agriculture and Irrigation, Rail Transportation, and Electric Power in Myanmar.

18. The Myanmar President thanked the Indian side for its offer to train Myanmar diplomats in conference management and for the assistance in setting up language laboratories and conference rooms in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon and e-research centre in Nay Pyi Taw for the Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Trade and Investment
19. Both leaders urged the business community to enthusiastically participate in each other’s trade fairs and also to share information on the prevailing trade and investment policies through organization of seminars and business related events in specific sectors of mutual interest. In this context, they welcomed the organization of the first Enterprise India Show in Yangon in November 2011 by CII and UMFCCI and the decision taken to make it an annual event.

Culture and People to People Exchanges
20. The two leaders emphasized the centrality of culture in further deepening the close bonds between the peoples of India and Myanmar and expressed satisfaction with the signature of the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for the period 2012-2015. It was noted that the CEP would also promote cultural exchanges between the North Eastern States of India and the bordering areas of Myanmar.

21. They also welcomed the preparations that have been made towards organizing the International Conference on Buddhist Heritage in Myanmar in December 2012 with the cooperation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of Religious Affairs of Myanmar and the Sitagu World Buddhist Association.

22. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the ongoing pace of work on the project for conservation and restoration of the Ananda Temple in Bagan, Myanmar by the Archaeological Survey of India which is expected to be completed over the next 2 years.

Commemorative Summit.
23. The Prime Minister invited the President of Myanmar to visit India on mutually convenient dates which will be decided through diplomatic channels. The President of Myanmar accepted the invitation.