PM now set for a visit to China and Myanmar

New Delhi, Aug 29: A day after an end to face-off between China and India on the Doklam sector, it has been confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to attend the 9th BRICS Summit. "At the invitation of the President of People’s Republic of China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Xiamen in China’s Fujian province during September 3-5, 2017 to attend the 9th BRICS Summit," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said here today. The 9th BRICS Summit under the theme “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future” will be held in Xiamen, Fujian Province beginning August 31. "Within the framework of the BRICS Summit, under the chairmanship of China, the business agenda will take place in Shanghai and Xiamen (China) from August 31 to September 4, 2017," a source said. Mr Modi will subsequently also pay a state visit to Myanmar from September 5-7, 2017 at the invitation of U Htin Kyaw, President of Myanmar. Significantly enough, this will be the Prime Minister’s first bilateral state visit to Myanmar even as Prime Minister during last three years has held several rounds of visits to other neighbouring countries. Mr Modi had, however, visited Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014 to attend the 12th ASEAN-India Summit and ninth East Asia Summit. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and even Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat had visited Myanmar recently. During the visit to Myanmar, the Prime Minister will hold discussions with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on matters of "mutual interest" and also call on President U Htin Kyaw. Apart from his engagements in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, Mr Modi will visit Yangon and Bagan, the MEA statement said. Notably, in the run up to the BRICS Summit, Proving the war mongers wrong and marking a victory of back room diplomatic channel, India yesterday announced that both India and China have agreed for "expeditious disengagement of border personnel" at Doklam tri-junction. The statement from the Ministry of External Affairs came nearly three months after a tense stand-off between troops of both countries at Doklam near Sikkim border. The "face-off" had begun around June 16 when Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops began constructing a road in the Doklam sector. UNI