Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Naypyidaw (AFP)
Naypyidaw:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who
arrived in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw yesterday for a three-day visit, received a ceremonial welcome from Myanmar President Htin Kyaw before the two inspected the guard of honour in Naypyidaw. Late last night,
PM Modi had said he had a "wonderful meeting" with Myanmar President Htin Kyaw during which they discussed steps to deepen the "historical relationship" between the two neighbours. In the agenda for the day, PM Modi held a range of delegation-level talks with Myanmar's State Counsellor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. PM Modi in a joint statement said, "It is important to maintain security and stability along the long land and maritime borders of India and Myanmar... India stands with Myanmar over the issue of violence in the Rakhine state which has led to loss of innocent lives." He visited Ananda Temple in the historic city of Bagan, 150 kilometres from the capital. He also addressed the Indian community at an event. This is PM Modi's first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He last visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit. The Myanmarese President and Ms Suu Kyi had visited India last year.
Here are the live updates of PM Narendra Modi's day two in Myanmar:
'Building "new-India", haven't shied away from taking tough decisions'
Narendra Modi said his government is not merely reforming India but is transforming India. A new India is being built, he said, adding that the government hasn't shied away from taking decisions that are tough. "For us, the nation is bigger than politics. People of India have the confidence that India can be transformed and we can break free from some of the evils that entered our systems," he said.
PM Modi praises Sushma Swaraj in Myanmar
The Prime Minister praised Sushma Swaraj saying the minister has been sensitive to the concerns of every Indian in any part of the world and is always ready to help. "Based on the feedback of the Indian diaspora we have undertaken numerous measures for them," he further said.
'Indians everywhere have kept in touch with their roots'
The Prime Minister said he was extremely happy to visit Yangon, which is famous for its history and spirituality. He further said that he makes it a point to interact with the Indian diaspora when he is travelling adding that the diaspora has contributed to the development of wherever they have settled and have kept in touch with their roots.
This is the same land where Subhash Chandra Bose said his famous words: 't
um mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga', says PM Modi, while addressing the Indian community in Myanmar.
'Seeing mini-India'
PM Narendra Modi, while addressing an Indian community event at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, said he was seeing a "mini-India" in front of him.
PM Modi at Ananda Temple![](https://drop.ndtv.com/liveblog/prod/1746574/636403193976870747..jpg)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the 11th-century Ananda Temple in Myanmar's ancient city Bagan.
Apart from this temple, the Archaeological Survey of India will restore a number of pagodas and murals damaged in an earthquake in Myanmar last year. PM Modi, in his address with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, said he was excited to visit the temple and pay tributes to the monuments of religious and historical importance.
PM Modi Visits Ananda Temple In Myanmar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the 11th-century Ananda Temple in Myanmar's ancient city Bagan which was damaged in an earthquake last year and is being renovated with India's assistance. The temple, one of the surviving masterpieces of the Mon architecture, is believed to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, a Burmese monarch. The temple's architecture shows Mon and Indian influence. The temple was first damaged in an earthquake in 1975, and then last year when a 6.8-magnitude quake shook Myanmar. India and Myanmar signed an agreement in 2010 to restore Ananda Temple and New Delhi allocated $3 million to the project being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Prime Minister Modi arrives in Bagan.
PM Modi leaves for heritage city of Bagan. He will visit the Ananda Temple and the Bagan viewing tower.
Would like to thank India for taking a strong stand on the terror threat that Myanmar faced recently: State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Together we can ensure that terrorism is not allowed to take root on our soil or on the soil of neighbouring countries: Ms Suu Kyi.
PM Modi: The rise in construction of roads, bridges and highways, power links and connectivity are a step in the right direction and indicate a bright future for ties between India and Myanmar.
Just like our development partnership, Myanmar's efforts to ensure high quality education, healthcare and research is worthy of praise.
I am happy to announce that all those in Myanmar who are interested in visiting India will be granted the Gratis Visa.
Myanmar and India being neighbours, our outlook and focus on security are similar: PM Modi at the joint statement. It is necessary that India and Myanmar cooperate to ensure that the land and coastal borders we share remain calm, he added.
Your courageous efforts towards the Myanmar peace process is worthy of praise. We understand and stand by Myanmar in these challenging times: PM Modi
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At the joint statement PM Modi said, the 2014 ASEAN Summit had brought me to Myanmar. We understand the challenges that Myanmar is facing today.
Our efforts to increase connectivity between India and Myanmar are a step in the right direction and are being carried out at a brisk pace: PM Modi
India-Myanmar Joint Statement begins
In delegation level talks, PM Modi says, "We would like to contribute to Myanmar's development efforts as part of our 'Sabka saath sabka vikaas' initiative," Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
Read: PM Modi's Day One In MyanmarPrime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw today, was welcomed by that country's President Htin Kyaw. PM Modi is pushing India's "Act East" and "Neighbourhood First" policies for economic growth and stability in the region. Both leaders met and discussed steps to deepen India and Myanmar's historical relationship.
Delegation level talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi begins
PM Modi would then leave to Yangon, seven hours away from the capital to address the Indian Community later in the day.
The prime minister will then travel to the ethnic city of Bagan where he would visit the Ananda Temple and the Bagan Viewing Tower.
PM Modi meeting with Myanmar's State Counsellor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to cover a range of delegation level talks. He is also expected to raise the evacuation of the ethnic Rohingyas into neighbouring countries.
PM Modi is pushing India's "Act East" and "Neighbourhood First" policies for economic growth and stability in the region. The prime minister's visit to Myanmar comes amid a spike in ethnic violence with Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state.
PM Modi reached Nay Pyi Taw yesterday on the final leg of his two- nation visit after attending the BRICS Summit in China.
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After what PM Modi described as a "wonderful meeting" with Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, during which they discussed steps to deepen the "historical relationship" between the two neighbours, he meets State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.