Myanmar's Suu Kyi to visit India next week

Both sides are expected to discuss border management as country shares its western frontier with India's northeast

NEW DEHLI: Myanmar's newly installed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week in India, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.



Suu Kyi, accompanied by her key ministers, will begin her official visit from October 17 to October 19 after concluding a key sub-regional Asian summit in the western Indian state of Goa.

Myanmar's de facto leader will meet with Modi, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj during her maiden visit since taking office earlier this year.

She will also attend a business event as part of her efforts to bolster the economy and her administration, which is managing a difficult transition from military-run pariah to full-fledged democracy.



"The visit of the State Counsellor will provide an opportunity for the two sides to discuss issues of mutual interest and seek ways to further strengthen the close and friendly ties that exist between the two countries," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss border management, Myanmar shares its western frontier with India's restive northeast region.

Indian intelligence officials say several militant groups operating in the area have their training camps in northern Myanmar's thick jungles.



India reportedly conducted a rare cross-border operation in coordination with Myanmar last June, when dozens of rebels were killed, according to New Delhi's defence minister.

The pro-democracy activist last visited India in 2012, two years after she was released from house arrest.

India had strongly supported her battle against the country's dictatorship in the 1980s and early 1990s but later began a dialogue with Myanmar at a time when it was still isolated in the West.