International Relations
India and Myanmar Ink Various Pacts
- 28 Feb 2020
- 4 min read
Why in News
India and Myanmar signed 10 agreements with a focus on socio-economic development of Myanmar, during Myanmar President U Win Myint’s visit to India.
- Myanmar stands at the confluence of India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy and India-Myanmar partnership is at the heart of India’s vision to create a connected and cooperative neighbourhood.
Key Points
- Connectivity:
- The two countries will start a coordinated bus service between Manipur’s Imphal and Myanmar’s Mandalay from April 2020.
- India will assist Myanmar in the construction of Integrated Check Point at Tamu, Myanmar, bordering Manipur.
- The two countries signed the Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018, which allowed bona fide travellers with valid documents to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit- Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawathar-Rih.
- Rakhine State Development Programme:
- More projects will be added to this programme.
- India signed a development programme for Rakhine State in Myanmar in late 2017 which was designed to assist the Myanmar government in Rakhine State to build housing infrastructure for displaced Rohingyas.
- India had committed $25 million grant assistance to Myanmar and phase-I involved completion of 250 prefabricated houses in Rakhine State.
- Infrastructure Development:
- India will also support the establishment of Myanmar’s diplomatic academy, and extend the National Knowledge Network to Myanmar.
- Both countries have decided to extend the Quick Impact Project schemes to Myanmar.
- Under this, India will take up capacity development work in the form of small projects which yield quick beneficial results for the local people.
- International Cooperation:
- Both sides agreed to work together to promote principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, respect for international law and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centrality in Indo-Pacific.
- Cooperation under other sectors:
- India will offer medical radiation equipment Bhabhatron II for the treatment of cancer patients and strengthen cooperation in the health sector.
- Both countries agreed to have government-to-government cooperation in petroleum, including in refinery, stockpiling, blending and retail.
- In governance, India will help Myanmar with the project of e-ID cards, which is modelled after the Aadhaar project.
- The two sides showed commitment to continue negotiations on pending treaties like Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and Extradition Treaty.
- An MoU has also been signed on ‘Cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-Integration of Victims of Trafficking’ between the two countries.
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties
- These are agreements between governments allowing for the exchange of evidence and information in criminal and related matters between the signing countries.
Extradition Treaty
- This is an agreement or arrangement made by India with a Foreign State, relating to the Extradition of fugitive criminals.
- Extradition treaties are traditionally bilateral in character.
