Modi on Friday met Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, reaffirming India’s commitment to assisting Myanmar in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives.
The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences and pledged India's continued humanitarian support, stating, “India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time.” He further emphasised bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including connectivity, capacity building, and infrastructure development.
“Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage to property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time,” Modi stated on X.
During the meeting, the two leaders also reviewed the state of bilateral relations. “We also discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, particularly in sectors like connectivity, capacity building, infrastructure development and more,” the Prime Minister said.
India has launched Operation Brahma to provide relief to earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar, where a military coup in February 2021 brought Senior General Min to power. Myanmar, a crucial component of BIMSTEC, plays a key role in the bloc’s efforts to bolster regional connectivity. Several major projects aimed at enhancing links between member states traverse Myanmar, where the local administration faces challenges in maintaining control over different regions.
The massive earthquake, which has left over 3,000 dead, nearly 5,000 injured, and more than 370 missing, has prompted Myanmar to reach out to the global community for humanitarian aid. The crisis has presented an opportunity for Naypyidaw to engage with international partners as it seeks assistance to rebuild and recover.
Senior General Min later attended an official dinner for BIMSTEC leaders, which brought together representatives from Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that disaster management featured prominently in the discussions among BIMSTEC foreign ministers on Thursday. The regional bloc remains focused on enhancing cooperation in handling natural calamities and strengthening mechanisms for rapid response in times of crisis.
Follow us
