 "Modi to visit Myanmar")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left for Nay Pyi Taw for his first bilateral visit to Myanmar with an aim of charting a roadmap for closer cooperation between the two countries in areas like security and counter- terrorism.
"I thank the Chinese government and people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit," Modi said in a tweet.
I thank the Chinese government & people for their warm hospitality during the BRICS Summit. Leaving for Myanmar for a bilateral visit.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2017
Modi is scheduled to call on Myanmar President Htin Kyaw who is also hosting a banquet for him later today.
The Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi tomorrow.
Modi had said India and Myanmar will look at strengthening existing cooperation in areas of security and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, and culture.
He hoped his visit will help in charting a roadmap for closer cooperation between the two countries.
The prime minister said both countries will review developments in bilateral ties with a focus on "extensive" programme of development cooperation and socio-economic assistance India is undertaking in Myanmar.
Modi said he was looking forward to paying a visit to the famed heritage city of Bagan, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has done a "stellar work" in renovating the Ananda Temple.
The ASI will be undertaking further restoration work on a number of pagodas and murals that were damaged in an earthquake last year, he said.
Modi had visited Myanmar in 2014 to attend the ASEAN- India Summit.
The Myanmarese president and Suu Kyi had visited India last year.
Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.
