India and Myanmar are expected to discuss security and defence issues on Wednesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi sit for bilateral talks for taking the mutual ties to the next level.

Both sides have been trying to give the bilateral ties a more strategic approach ever since the National League for Democracy (NLD), under the leadership of Suu Kyi, came to power in Myanmar in March.

Both the leaders had last held a bilateral meeting in September on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Laos. Prior to that, in August, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw was also on an official visit to New Delhi.

India and Myanmar share a 1,640-km border, as a result, the issue of peace and security remains one of the crucial points of the bilateral relationship. India has previously urged Myanmar to not to let its territory be used for terrorism.

During the meeting, it is expected that Myanmar will reiterate its commitment on this issue, sources told BusinessLine .

During the visit of President Kyaw, Myanmar had assured India that peace and stability will be maintained along the India-Myanmar border and vowed to jointly fight terrorism and and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations.

India will also raise the issue of maritime security with Myanmar as the country has critical importance in the government’s ‘Act East Policy’ which was incidentally launched by Modi in the Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Daw in November 2014.

Another important aspect is connectivity. Both sides are engaged in a massive connectivity project — Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project — that was launched in 2008.

Both sides have also signed two memorandums of understanding in implementing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project.

Besides, promotion and expansion of cooperation in agriculture, banking, power and energy sectors are also expected to feature prominently during the talks.

On Tuesday, Suu Kyi, who is a on a four-day visit here, met President Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

‘Stable relationship’ “Myanmar will always be seeking India’s help when it comes to defence and strategic issues. A well established and stable relationship with India will help Myanmar in creating peace and stability within their own domestic constituencies,” said Prabir De, professor and head of India-ASEAN Centre, Research and Information System for Developing Countries.

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