India will be represented at the inauguration of Myanmar’s new president, Min Aung Hlaing, by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who will meet leaders in Nay Pyi Taw to take forward bilateral engagements in the area of trade and development assistance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that Singh will visit Myanmar from April 8 to 11 to attend the inauguration ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
Singh, who is visiting at the invitation of the Myanmar government, is expected to meet government officials in Nay Pyi Taw.
He will also participate in bilateral engagements related to trade, economic and development assistance initiatives, and interact with members of the Indian community in Yangon, the ministry said.
The Indian government has so far refrained from commenting on the recent elections in Myanmar or the formation of the new government led by Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led the coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
Min Aung Hlaing retired from the army last month to run in the presidential election.
However, Singh’s participation in the inauguration ceremony signals New Delhi’s willingness to engage with the new regime, primarily due to security concerns regarding India’s strategic northeastern region. A number of armed groups from the northeastern states continue to operate from bases in Myanmar’s border areas.
Following the 2021 coup, Min Aung Hlaing promised to hold elections within a year, but the elections were not held until five years later.
Analysts have expressed concern about the election results, as the Myanmar military holds a quarter of the seats in the new parliament, and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won about 80% of the remaining seats.
Myanmar’s economy has also been devastated by the civil war that broke out when armed resistance groups launched a coordinated attack in October 2023.
India has repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Myanmar and called for a transition to democracy with the participation of all political stakeholders.
