Visit of Prime Minister to Myanmar 2017

On 5^th September 2017, Indian Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi arrived at Myanmar on a three-day visit on President Mr.Htin Kyaw’s invitation.

India signs 11 agreements with Myanmar:

On 6^th September 2017, 11 MoUs were signed with Myanmar after Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Ms.Aung San Suu Kyi and President Mr.Htin Kyaw.

The 11 MoUs are as follows:

1. Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Security Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
2. Cultural Exchange Programme between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for the years 2017-2020
3. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Republic of India on Enhancing the Cooperation of the Upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Centre at Yamethin, Myanmar
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Sharing White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy
5. Technical Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for providing Coastal Surveillance System
6. Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and Food and Drugs (FDA), Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar on Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation.
7. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Family welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Health And Sports of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on cooperation in the field of Health and medicine
8. Exchange of Letter for Extension of MoU on the establishment of MIIT.
9. Exchange of Letter for Extension of MoU on the establishment of India-Myanmar Center for Enhancement of IT-Skill.
10. Memorandum of understanding in the field of elections between the Election Commission of India and The Union Election Commission of Myanmar.
11. Memorandum of Understanding onCooperation between Myanmar Press Council and the Press Council of India

India to grant gratis visa to Myanmarese citizens:

1. On 6^thSeptember 2017, Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi announced that India will grant gratis (no-cost) visa to Myanmarese citizens wanting to visit the country.
2. Mr.Modi made the announcement during his joint press statement with State Counsellor Ms.Aung San Suu Kyi.
3. He also announced that India has decided to release 40 Myanmarese citizens, currently lodged in various jails in India.

PM Modi visited Shwedagon Pagoda – Historic Monument:

1. On 7^thSeptember 2017, Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi visited the 2,500-years-old Shwedagon pagoda, considered to be the pinnacle of Myanmar’s cultural heritage, and performed ‘puja’ at the Kalibari Temple in Yangon.
2. Mr.Modi paid his respects at the pagoda on the last day of his three-day first bilateral visit to this Buddhist-majority country.
3. He also planted a Bodhi tree sapling at the pagoda complex, signifying common cultural heritage.
4. The 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics.
5. 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. From a humble beginning of 8.2 metres, the Shwedagon Pagoda today stands close to 110 meters.
6. 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.
7. Modi later paid his respects at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum and performed ‘puja’ at the Kalibari Temple.
8. He also visited Bogyoke Aung San Museum with Myanmar’s state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

About Myanmar:

1. Capital – Naypyidaw
2. Currency – Burmese kyat
3. President – Mr.Htin Kyaw
4. State Counsellor – Ms.Aung San Suu Kyi
5. Official language – Burmese