In the first high-level meeting after the recent crackdown in Myanmar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday met his Myanmarese counterpart General Thein Sein in Singapore and pressed for expediting and broad-basing the political reform process.
During the 30-minute meeting, the Myanmarese prime minister briefed Dr Singh about the internal developments in his country and efforts made by his government at political reforms and national reconciliation.
"The prime minister conveyed India's position that the reform process should be broad-based, including pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi and various ethnic nationalities and it should be carried forward expeditiously towards a satisfactory conclusion," external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.
Sarna noted that India supports efforts of United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to engage Government of Myanmar on behalf of the international community to facilitate the process of reconciliation.
Dr Singh told Sein that India attaches importance to its relations with Myanmar.
The two leaders also reviewed the status of various bilateral projects and discussed regional and international developments.
Ahead of his meeting, Dr Singh hoped that the ongoing dialogue between the military junta and pro-democracy leaders will have a satisfactory outcome and the happenings in that country has a bearing on India.
"Myanmar is our neighbour. What goes on there has an important bearing on our own country. As you know that a number of insurgent groups take advantage of the instability in Myanmar to indulge in unlawful activities in our Northeast," the prime minister told reporters on board his special aircraft.
"Therefore, we have a strong interest in a stable, prosperous, peaceful Myanmar," he said.
"We had supported the role of the United Nations in bringing about a national reconciliation between the government of Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi and I sincerely hope that dialogue, which is progressing, will reach a satisfactory outcome," said Dr Singh, who will be meeting his Myanmarese counterpart Thein Sein.
The meeting came on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit amid intense pressure on the Southeast Asian grouping to take action against Myanmar.
India, while seeking early steps towards democracy, has been opposing any coercive action against Myanmar, citing its multi-faceted interests in the neighbouring country.
New Delhi has noted that as a "close and friendly neighbour" it wanted any initiatives to be "mindful of the need" to ensure that the country is "peaceful and stable".
