Myanmar a focus of India's foreign policies: President Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said that Myanmar was a "focus country" in India's foreign policies such as the 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First'.

Addressing the Indian community reception at Myanmar's Yangon city, President Kovind said, "Today, the central tenets of India's foreign policy are guided by recognition that the road to development runs through the region. The 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First' policies are key aspects of our foreign policy. Myanmar is a focus country in both."

He also said that India is "ready to offer Myanmar any assistance" in addressing the various challenges faced by Myanmar pertaining to national reconciliation, reconstruction and economic development.

The President highlighted the cultural ties shared by the two countries. "Myanmar, like India, is an enormously diverse country, with different ethnicities and faiths co-existing. And our shared civilisational ethos shows us that all faiths share fundamental truths, which guide all of us. This country has a proud, millennia-old tradition of Buddhist thought and philosophy. It is home to one of the leading schools of Buddhism," President Kovind said.

President Kovind visited the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yongan and laid a wreath at the Martyrs' Mausoleum earlier today.

The President of India, along with the First Lady, is scheduled to depart for India on December 14, after completing his engagements with Myanmar.