IT News (with input from India today)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured visa fees for Myanmar national to be waived off so as to encourage them to visit India more. Speaking to enthusiastic Burmese- Indians crowd who lingered around the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar during his visit in the country, Mr. Modi said his government is not merely reforming India but is transforming India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his concerned on the Act East Policy. He saidRs 1,600 crores had been sanctioned to develop the roads starting from Imphal that would be snaking through the interior roads of Myanmar than to Mandalay. He has also requested to the people of Myanmar to co-operate and had asked to become more responsible and reciprocal while implementing the process of trade and other border activities in Tammu and Moreh side. He said Myanmarese should not forget that they also have a border in Tammu. Prime Minister assured that the Integrated Check Post in Moreh would soon complete and proper international trade activities would be ensued thereby.
MLA, Leisangthem Susildro and R.K Shivachandra, convenor of ‘Operationalising Act East Committee” of Manipur also attended the large gathering at Thuwunna Stadium.
Before winding his trip Mr. Modi also visited the historic Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. He also planted a Bodhi tree sapling at the pagoda complex, signifying common cultural heritage.
Located west of the Royal Lake in Yangon, Shwedagon Pagoda is considered to be the most sacred and impressive Buddhist site for the Myanmarese people.
Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds, the largest of which is a 72 carat diamond.
PM Modi’s visit to Shwedagon Pagoda came on the third day of his Myanmar trip and a day after he met state councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto head of Myanmar.
The two spoke about development and terrorism with India and Myanmar agreeing that terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region and the fight against the menace should include strong measures against countries and entities that finance and provide sanctuary to terrorists.
Myanmar condemned the recent terror attacks during the Amarnath Yatra in India as also various acts of terror perpetrated by terrorists from across the borders.
On its part, India condemned the recent terrorist attacks in northern Rakhine state, where several members of the Myanmar security forces lost their lives.
“We share your concerns about extremist violence in Rakhine state & violence against security forces & how innocent lives have been affected,” Modi said, standing next to Suu Kyi at a joint press briefing on Wednesday.
