India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) Salman Khurshid will visit Myanmar from 14 to 16 December, to inaugurate the International Buddhist Conference in Yangon.
This is Khurshid’s first trip abroad as the EAM, and he will therefore visit Nay Pyi Taw to meet his Myanmarese counterpart, U Wunna Maung Lwin, and President Thein Sein, before he proceeds to Yangon.
“The visit of the External Affairs Minister to our neighbouring country re-emphasizes the importance we place on relations with our neighbours,[and] also that it is located as part of our Look East Policy indicates the importance that we are providing to our Look East Policy,” said Syed Akbaruddin, Spokesperson, Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
He will then proceed to Yangon to inaugurate the Conference on 16 December by unveiling the statue of the Sarnath Buddha sent by India.
This trip comes days before the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit commences. Given the likelihood of Thein Sein attending the event, this visit “is a precursor to those discussions,” added Akbaruddin.
Myanmar is regarded as India’s gateway to the larger ASEAN community. Post-2010, India has enjoyed healthy ties with Myanmar, and a continued amicable relation with Myanmar is in consonance with India’s Look East Policy.