India
and Myanmar have announced plans to strengthen their defence cooperation through
a joint consultative commission (JCC) meeting held in New Delhi. The meeting
had released joint statement on various aspects. JCC meeting was chaired by Union External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin.
Both countries work together on effective border management particularly on the
issue of cross-border insurgency and terrorism. India has reaffirmed to provide
defence assistance program as part of its Goodwill Diplomacy to Myanmar in
order to modernise their Armed Forces. Border issue: To hold first meeting of
India-Myanmar Joint Boundary Working Group in New Delhi to address all
outstanding boundary issues. Trade and business: Investments of Indian
companies in sectors like power, ports, agro-industries, mining, forest
products, construction industry, highways, consumer goods, oil and gas,
manufacturing, plantation, hospitality and ICT will be encouraged. Recently,
defence cooperation between both neighbours has grown after changes in
political reforms of Myanmar under President Thein Sein, which has made them
less reliant on China.
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