President of India Droupadi Murmu on Monday received H.E. U Min Aung Hlaing, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with its eastern neighbour.
Welcoming President Hlaing, who recently assumed office, President Murmu highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the two countries and underscored Myanmar’s strategic significance in India’s regional outreach.
“India and Myanmar share deep cultural, civilizational, and spiritual ties that go back centuries. Our relationship rests on a strong foundation of mutual understanding and friendship. Myanmar is India’s gateway to Southeast Asia, as it is the only ASEAN country that shares a land border with India. It is an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East’, and ‘MAHASAGAR’ policies,” President Murmu said.
The President congratulated President Hlaing on assuming office and conveyed India’s readiness to work closely with the new government to further strengthen bilateral relations.
“India looks forward to working closely with the new Government to strengthen our bilateral partnership further,” she said, adding that India stands ready to support Myanmar’s development priorities and remains steadfast in supporting the country’s pursuit of peace and reconciliation.
During the meeting, connectivity emerged as a key area of discussion. President Murmu emphasized the importance of ongoing infrastructure and connectivity projects between the two countries and expressed hope that they would be completed at the earliest with the support of the Myanmar government.
The two leaders also reviewed economic cooperation and noted the growth in bilateral trade across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agricultural products. While welcoming the expansion of commercial ties, President Murmu observed that bilateral trade remains below its full potential and called for greater efforts to enhance economic engagement.
The discussions reflected the shared commitment of both nations to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and strengthen people-to-people connections.
The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing confidence that the longstanding friendship and partnership between India and Myanmar would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
