Indian PM meets Myanmar president in historic visit

Energy-hungry India is eyeing agreements with its resource-rich neighbour in a bid to foster closer ties with Myanmar.

NAYPYIDAW: India's prime minister held talks with Myanmar's president Monday in a historic visit to boost trade and secure energy supplies, while contesting the strong influence of regional rival China.

Manmohan Singh, the first Indian premier to visit Myanmar in a quarter of a century, was greeted with a guard of honour as he met leader Thein Sein in the capital Naypyidaw, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Energy-hungry India is eyeing a raft of agreements with its resource-rich neighbour in a bid to foster closer ties with Myanmar after dramatic reforms in the country ended its international isolation.

Singh and Thein Sein shook hands and posed for pictures with senior Myanmar ministers as the talks began.

The Indian prime minister will travel to the main city of Yangon for talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, in a move seen as a sign that India wants to repair links with the veteran activist.