Swaraj to visit Myanmar from Aug 9 -11

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will be undertaking yet another bilateral visit with a neighbouring country. This time it will be Myanmar where the minister is expected to have packed scheduled besides boosting bilateral ties.

During the two-day visit which will take place from August 9 -11, Swaraj will be participating at the India-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The minister, who will be accompanied by other senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will only be visiting Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw.

"Our relationship with ASEAN has reached a critical mass and we are pushing them to reach the next level. India ASEAN meeting will focus on how to enhance connectivity between India and ASEAN states and seamless economic ties," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here today.

India and ASEAN have 26 dialogue mechanisms in areas such as agriculture, trade and commerce, environment, science and technology, new and renewable energy and tourism.

India and ASEAN also has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods that came into effect in 2010. However, the pact on services is yet to be ratified by all the ASEAN-member countries.

Akbaruddin also said that although Swaraj will be meeting the political leadership of Myanmar, the chances of her meeting Aung San Suu Kyi of National League for Democracy looks bleak since she is based in Yangon.

"Issues related to border management will figure as India and Myanmar share a long border," Akbaruddin added.

He also refuted claims that talks of expanding the membership of SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) will figure on the agenda to include Myanmar into the grouping.

During the visit, the minister will also be holding a series of bilateral meetings with her counterparts from China, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Canada.