Sushma calls on Myanmar President
Nay Pyi Taw, May 10: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called Myanmar President U Win Myint on Thursday, the first day of her two-day visit to the eastern neighbour.
"A key partner in Act East Policy! EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on the President of Myanmar, U Win Myint in her first engagement in Myanmar," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Sushma Swaraj's visit is part of the ongoing high-level interaction between India and Myanmar, which got a democratic government in 2016.
India is a key development aid partner for Myanmar and is implementing a number of infrastructure projects in that country.
These include the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project connecting Mizoram with Sittwe port in Myanmar, the Trilateral Highway Project connecting India with Myanmar and Thailand, and the Rhi-Tiddim road.
The Rohingya refugee crisis is also expected to come up for discussion during Sushma Swaraj's visit.
India has called for a long-term solution for socio-economic development in Myanmar's Rakhine State to solve the crisis.
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India pushes for Commonwealth reforms to reflect 'contemporary realities'
New York (PTI): India has pushed for reforms in the Commonwealth grouping to make it more reflective of the "realities of contemporary times", as it emphasised its commitment to the organisation's core values and principles at a ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly here.
Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented India at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting (CFAMM) 2025 on Monday.
At the meeting, George spoke about India's "commitment to the core values and principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter as well as reform of the Commonwealth to better reflect the realities of contemporary times", the MEA said in a social media post on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by Samoa Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo.
The CFAMM is a high-level forum that brings together foreign ministers of Commonwealth member states to deliberate on ways to strengthen collaboration and develop joint responses to shared challenges across the association of 56 countries.
The ministers at CFAMM "expressed overwhelming support for the Commonwealth’s role as a champion of multilateralism and collective action at a time of profound global upheaval", the association said in a press release.
In his opening remarks, Toelupe said: “The role we play at this Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting is crucial, and the issues discussed today are key to implementing the mandates of the CHOGM Leaders from Samoa, to help build a resilient Commonwealth.”
Leading her first CFAMM as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey called on member states to reinforce the grouping's unique convening power, the release said.
“The multilateral system is under serious pressure, but it remains our greatest tool. Without it, the fractures in our world will deepen. With it, we can still find solutions... in a world defined by pressure, the Commonwealth must be defined by purpose,” she said.
