India conveys support for quick repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh

India today conveyed support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and announced trade concessions to Myanmar as India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Army Chief Gen M M Naravane wrapped up their two-day visit to the South East Asian country.

India also indicated its willingness to give priority to Myanmar in sharing Covid-19 vaccines when they become available, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

New Delhi's support to early Rohingya return was conveyed by Shringla during his talks with U Soe Han, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, in Naypyitaw.

That the Rohingya issue figured in the discussion between Shringla and U Soe Han was clear from the readout issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry which said "both sides noted the considerable progress made under the Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP) and proposed finalising projects under Phase - III of the Programme, including setting up of a skills training center."

The Indian foreign secretary "conveyed India's support for ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of displaced persons to the Rakhine state," the statement said.

Bangladesh has been repeatedly pressing India to lean on Myanmar to kick off the Rohingya repatriation stalled for a long time despite an agreement between Dhaka and Naypyitaw for the purpose.

Shringla and Gen Naravane presented 3,000 vials of Remdesivir to the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, "symbolic of India's commitment to assist Myanmar in its fight against the pandemic," said the MEA statement.

India and Myanmar also agreed to further strengthen their partnership in connectivity projects, capacity building, power and energy, deepen economic and trade ties, further facilitate people-to-people and cultural exchanges and broad-base their defense exchanges across all the three services.

Gen Naravane and Shringla called on Suu Kyi and the Commander in Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. The Indian Army Chief also met Vice Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Armed Services.

They also agreed to work towards operationalisation of Sittwe port in Rakhine state in the first quarter of next year.

The two sides discussed maintenance of security and stability in their border areas and reiterated their mutual commitment not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to each other. The Indian side expressed their appreciation to Myanmar for handing over of 22 cadres of Indian insurgent groups in May this year.

India announced a grant of two million dollars for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State that will provide increased economic connectivity between north eastern Indian state of Mizoram and Myanmar.

In the last few years, both countries have made commendable strides in bilateral ties and explored new avenues of cooperation including fresh investments in oil and gas and power, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals.

Both sides have been in discussion to establish a high-capacity high-voltage connection between the Indian power grid and the Myanmar grid. Discussions on the low voltage radial interconnections between North-Eastern states and Myanmar have also progressed.