AT THE invitation of U Win Myint, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Right Honourable Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal, paid a State Visit to Myanmar from 16 to 20 October 2019.

The delegation led by President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari arrived at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport by special flight in the evening of 16 October 2019. The Right Honourable Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President U Win Myint at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw at 1000 a.m. on 17 October, 2019.

Following the ceremony, President U Win Myint and President Mrs. Bhandari held a meeting at the Credential Hall of the Presidential Palace. During the meeting, both leaders had cordial discussions and exchanged views on matters pertaining to the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation and promoting trade and investment as well as collaborating closely at the regional and multilateral fora. The two leaders also gladly recalled the participation of the Myanmar President at the 4th BIMSTEC Summit following his State Visit to Nepal in August 2018. The two leaders agreed to enhance tourism cooperation aiming to foster people-to-people contacts between Myanmar and Nepal.

Subsequently, President Mrs. Bhandari also held bilateral discussions with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the same day at the Presidential Palace. They exchanged views in a friendly atmosphere on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of common interest.

During the meetings, the leaders extolled the commonalities, culture and traditions which have established close affinities between the two peoples and countries. Both sides discussed matters related to the further enhancement of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade and investment, transportation, communications and culture, cooperation between the two countries in the regional and international fora, participation of a high-level Myanmar delegation at the International Climate Change Conference namely “Sagarmatha Dialogue”, scheduled to be held in Nepal in April 2020. Noting the existing potential for investment, the two sides agreed to work in unison to facilitate the promotion of bilateral trade and investments between the two countries.

During the meetings, Myanmar reaffirmed its readiness to render support for the success of the Nepali Government’s “Visit Nepal Year (2020)” and for the National objective of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali”.

In addition, bearing in mind that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will mark the 60th anniversary in 2020, both sides agreed to hold a series of events in both countries in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and Nepal.

The leaders also acknowledged with great pleasure the role of Nepali diasporas in Myanmar in forging the existing traditional bonds of friendship between Myanmar and Nepal by integrating well into Myanmar society as well as sharing peaceful, happy and harmonious lives.

Moreover, the two sides reaffirmed their commitments to work closely, not only in bilateral context but also in regional and multilateral fora, including BIMSTEC and the United Nations, based on shared views on issues of common interest.

Following the meetings, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President Mrs. Bhandari witnessed the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding between Myanmar and Nepal. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of Nepal on Cultural Cooperation was signed by Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar and the Honourable Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of Nepal on Tourism Cooperation was signed by U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for International Cooperation of Myanmar and the Honourable Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gawayi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal.

On the same day, in the afternoon, the President of Nepal received Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing at the M-Gallery by Sofitel Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

In the evening, President U Win Myint hosted a State Banquet in honour of the visiting Nepali President and her entourage.

On 18 October 2019, Nepali President, the Right Honourable Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari departed Nay Pyi Taw for Pyin Oo Lwin by special flight. In Pyin Oo Lwin, President Mrs. Bhandari visited Sree Durga Devi Temple, and held a meeting with the people of Nepali origin in Myanmar at the town hall. On the same day, the delegation led by the Nepali President left Pyin Oo Lwin for Nyaung Oo by special flight. While in Bagan, they visited the Ananda Temple, Thatbyinnyu, Alodaw Pyae and Shwezigon Pagodas. Later in the evening, the delegation led by the Nepali President departed Nyaung Oo for Yangon by special flight.

While in Yangon, on 19 October 2019, President Mrs. Bhandari paid homage to the Shwedagon Pagoda and attended the opening ceremony of the Nepal-Myanmar Friendship Lumbini Photo Exhibition. She also visited the Sitagu International Buddhist Academy and the Bogyoke Aung San Museum. In the afternoon, the Nepali President attended the Talk Programme entitled “Myanmar-Nepal Friendship and Business Opportunities” jointly organized by Myanmar-Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Myanmar-Nepal Friendship Association at the Chatrium Hotel. In the evening, she attended the dinner hosted by the Nepali Ambassador to Myanmar at the Wyndham Grand Hotel.

The Nepali President and her entourage left Yangon by air in the morning of 20 October 2019.

A Joint Statement was issued at the conclusion of the State Visit to Myanmar by the Right Honourable Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal.

This visit, the first by a Head of State of Nepal to Myanmar in the past 39 years, reinforces the bonds of friendship and the tradition of high-level interaction between leaders of the two countries. It is also a historic and important milestone in the bilateral relations reflecting the hallmark of the close and friendly ties between the two countries. The two MoUs on Cultural and Tourism Cooperation signed during the visit also further deepen bilateral cooperation in these areas and constitute stronger bonds of friendship and partnership between the two peoples and countries.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar