Myanmar President due July 15

FE Report

The President of Myanmar U Thein Sein is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on July 15 on a three-day visit to forge cooperation in a wide range of areas of trade, border management and security aspects, a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.

The two countries will hold 'foreign office consultation' at the beginning of next month in Dhaka to finetune the bilateral issues to be included in the agenda for talks prior to the visit of Myanmar president.

Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes will lead their respective teams at the consultation meeting at the MoFA, sources said.

Repatriation of undocumented Myanmar nationals and Rohingya refugees will feature prominently in discussion between the two sides during the visit.

The sudden influx of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh territory would also dominate the talks, a senior official of MoFA said, adding the agenda for talks is yet to be finalised.

The President of Myanmar will have exclusive official talks with Bangladesh government officials. President U Thein Sein will hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Zillur Rahman

Issues like connectivity, cooperation in the energy sector, border management, establishing direct road and air links, enhancing trade and cooperation in education and tourism, might come up for discussion, a diplomat said.

In 2010-2011, Bangladesh exported products worth $9.65 million to Myanmar against its import of $179 million.